Celebrating Our Veterans

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We were pleased to have the opportunity to honor our Nation's veterans at a special ceremony held at the Care Center this Veteran's Day. Care Center resident Phillip Swan, a Navy veteran, was in attendance as staff members and guests thanked him for his service, and celebrated with patriotic songs performed by our music therapist, Heather Dean.

Deacon Jenny Ritter led the group in prayer, and then Teri Schmitchen, director of volunteer services and coordinator of the We Honor Veterans program at Angela Hospice, read the following:

When Francis Scott Key wrote the “Star Spangled Banner” almost 200 years ago, he called America, “the land of the free and the home of the brave.” Those words are as true today as they were then.

Throughout this Nation’s history, America’s soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and coastguardsmen have bravely answered the call to defend our freedom, to aid our friends and allies, and to turn back aggressors. We can never fully repay our debt of gratitude to the more than 650,000 American service members who died in battle or the 1.4 million who were wounded. We can, however, recognize and thank the 25 million veterans still living today.

These words are inscribed on the Korean War Memorial in Washington, D.C.: “Our nation honors her sons and daughters who answered the call to defend a country they never knew and a people they never met.” Those words apply equally to many of our World War I, World War II, Vietnam War and Gulf War veterans as well. They apply to today’s active duty service members — tomorrow’s veterans — who are helping to maintain peace throughout the world.

Today, it is our privilege to say “thank you” to all of America’s veterans, to let them know that we appreciate them for their service and honor them for their sacrifices.

The price of freedom is high. We cannot afford to forget those willing to pay it. Today, we celebrate America’s veterans for keeping this Nation “the land of the free and the home of the brave.” 

Photos from the 2019 Veteran's Day Ceremony










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