The week of November 9 had hearts and minds focusing to show respect and honor to the Veterans living in our Home as we all remembered Veterans Day.
In November 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day with the following words: "To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations." However in 1954, after World War II, with the urging of the veterans service organizations, the Act of 1938 was amended by replacing "Armistice" with "Veterans." With the approval of this legislation (Public Law 380) on June 1, 1954, the 11th of November became a day to honor all American veterans of all wars. A Veteran is a person who served in the active military, naval, or air service and who was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable.
Inspired by the poem In Flanders Field, poppies have long been a symbol of Veterans Day. In Crafts, residents made their own poppy from red cupcake liners, pipe cleaners, and buttons. Many residents wore the poppies they made proudly in remembrance of veterans.
On activity TV Channel, the movie “A League of Grateful Sons” was shown. This film honors the legacy of WWII Veterans. The Travelogue this week featured the veterans’ Honor Flight to Washington D.C., which some of our residents have participated in the Honor Flight experience.
The afternoon of Veterans Day activity staff and others personally recognized and thanked each resident who served our country in the military. Veterans currently living at the nursing home are: Wilmer Blunier, Lenord Goodin, Dean Martin, Lyle Martin, Herb Pinkham, and Ken Thompson. In addition, Lila Herbst also served as a code breaker. Veterans residing in the Country View apartments are: Al Arnold, Sim Bates, and Harold Roth. Beautiful, hand-made red, white, and blue cards created by students from Mrs. Zimmerman’s class at Roanoke-Benson Jr. High were distributed to each veteran along with darling patriotic star cookies from Caleri’s that were anonymously donated and dropped off for each Veteran at the Home. Thanks again to those who served our country and to those who lovingly remembered those living on the campus.
There were two discharges over the weekend. Anna Marie Reutter was able to return to her Country View apartment on the 13th and Joyce Singer left on the 14th. Best wishes to both these ladies after each being at the Home about a month.
The annual Years of Service Awards were presented recently to the following staff: Jayme Magnuson and Natalie Overocker-Shirley, 5 years; Reva Peterson, Michelle Schmidgall, and Kathy Wiegand, 10 years; Holly Gerdes, 15 years; and Stacy Wolfe, 30 years. Congratulations to all of these employees on their employment anniversary with the Apostolic Christian Home of Roanoke. Thank you for your commitment to caring for those who live on this campus or are served through the Victory Home Care Services. Your loyalty and dedication to the facility and residents does not go unnoticed and is very much appreciated.
An employee has a blog https://museandmarvel.blogspot.com/ that recently had a post where she described with passion her feeling about the challenges families and residents are experiencing with the no visitor restriction mandated by IDPH on nursing homes. With permission, the following is a portion of her post: “…And then I saw another chair today. A blue canvas lawn chair. It was sitting outside a dear resident's room at the nursing home where I work. Last year if I would have seen a chair, sitting strangely and forlornly outside a window, I would have wondered about it. But this year, it makes total sense. This year, it brings a warm response to my heart. That chair. It represents love and connection and involvement. It represents a family member, a child, who misses being able to spend time in the same room with their loved one. Who misses being able to give them a hug. It represents their best attempt at "being there" in the best way they can. For now. During this COVID time. A chance to look through the window at each other, each on their phone, and share their lives, their cares, their smiles, their tears. As best they can. Love breaking through the glass barrier. This time is hard. There is no other way to say it. But how thankful I am for lawn chairs outside of nursing home windows.”
NOTE: With the holiday seasons approaching, please know that if there’s still a limitation on indoor visitors at nursing homes that your Christmas caroling group would be very welcome to participate in a window caroling sing this year. Or your church/family group would be appreciated for a Thanksgiving hymn sing. Please contact Activity Director Mary Beth Banwart at 923-2071 ext. 170 or via email to marybeth@achroanoke.org to schedule a mutually agreeable date/time.
Comments