Claymont Health and Rehabilitation honors vets
Doria Kisling, a social worker with Crossroads Hospice, attached a pin to Alvin Spring, who served in the Army in his younger days.
Friends, family and well-wishers gathered at Claymont Health and Rehabilitation Center in Uhrichsville to honor five resident veterans on Thursday, Nov. 7. The pinning ceremony included prayers and praise for the men, who served in several branches of military service from World War II and the Korean Conflict. The event was created by the staff of Akron Area Crossroads Hospice.
Honored with a United States flag pin and the thanks of all present were Dennis Draghi, 78, Navy; Alvin Spring, 88, Army; Kenneth Smith, 93, Army; David Baughman, 79, Marines; and Raymond McVicker, 74, Air Force.
After a Veterans of Foreign Wars honor guard entered the open hall, Cross Roads Hospice Chaplain Matt Doerle offered a prayer for all branches of service and those present, and then the Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Honorees were then given a pin, along with a prayer for their own specific branch of service. The men were each battling with illness, and all but one remained seated. The pins were affixed to their shirts as the crowd offered applause.
Sherry Gutensohn is activities director at Claymont Health and Rehabilitation Center, and over the past several years, the center has always tried to do something special for Veterans Day.
“We’ve always celebrated and honored the service of our veterans," Gutensohn said. "The pinning ceremony has evolved over the past several years, and Crossroads Hospice has always helped us with that.”
The center always has a number of veterans in residence. “They’re not always able to come out of their rooms to participate in the actual ceremony, but we make sure all of the men get their pins and our thanks as well," Gutensohn said. "We think it’s important to look after and make our veterans and all our patients feel appreciated.”
Doria Kisling is a social worker with Crossroads Hospice and was present for the ceremony. She said Crossroads Hospice conducts such ceremonies honoring veterans throughout the region they serve.
“We also have a program in which people can get a special day to do something special of their choosing,” Kisling said.
Such days have included trips to sporting events with special access to players and other activities.
“There were several of the veterans' family members who came and visited for the ceremony, and we know they really appreciate that,” Gutensohn said.
The ceremony was attended by some 30 people including other residents of the center.
The pinning was followed by snacks served by the staff of the center and some time for attendees and families to socialize a bit. A photo booth also was on hand to take pictures with the veterans.
“When we do these ceremonies,” Doerle said, “it’s always an honor to be able to do it for the veterans, first of all. And you can tell they truly appreciate having their service acknowledged, especially after so many years."
Akron Area Crossroads Hospice is part of a larger, regional organization that locally serves nine counties and the surrounding area. Based in Green, the organization provides in-home hospice care to patients with terminal illnesses.
Claymont Health and Rehabilitation provides health care at 5166 Spanson Drive SE in Uhrichsville.