This past July, Infinity Hospice Care of Scottsdale, AZ, a Level 5 We Honor Veterans hospice partner, hosted a pinning ceremony for Veterans of the Korean War in recognition of July 27 as the 71st anniversary of the end of the Korean War. The event, held at a nearby assisted living facility, allowed Infinity Hospice Care to honor and express gratitude to multiple Korean War Veterans and Korean War Veteran spouses in attendance.
The Korean War is often referred to as the Forgotten War. Infinity’s We Honor Veterans coordinator, David “Murf” Murphy, acknowledged this in his introduction at the ceremony, stating “That connotation – forgotten – is sadly an all too frequent statement about the men and women who served during that conflict. Today, we are here to change that, at least for the Korean War Veterans living here at Silverstone.”
To acknowledge their gratitude for the sacrifices these Veterans made in service to their country, Infinity pinned each of the Korean War Veterans and Veteran spouses in attendance. During the ceremony, one of the Veterans described his experience upon returning from his service during the Korean War.
“When I got off the bus in my hometown, still in my uniform, a lady stopped me and asked if I was a Postal worker,” the Veteran shared. “I told her I’m an Air Force service member and I just returned from Korea.”
This Veteran recounted that the woman appeared confused by his response.
“What’s going on?” she asked, evidently unaware of the conflict her nation’s service members were actively involved in.
This Veteran went on to describe the impact of being part of this forgotten war. “When I applied for a job, I did not mention the years I served, fearing it would be used to disqualify me. When asked by potential employers about the ‘missing years’, I told them I was just goofing around with my brother for a few years,” he shared.
With tears in his eyes, he continued, “I’m now 90 years old and today, I finally got the honor and acknowledgement I deserve. Thank you!”
Honoring the service of our Veterans is an important responsibility undertaken by We Honor Veterans (WHV) partners. Veterans’ experiences can vary greatly depending on a number of factors, including their period of service. Maintaining knowledge of the unique challenges a Veteran may face depending on the conflict they were involved in assists healthcare professionals to provide high quality, specialized care to Veteran patients. Learn more about the unique factors impacting Veterans based on the conflicts they were involved in.
