RetirementHomes.com - Veterans

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Retired 92 year-old soldier gets gift from fellow servicemen

aadmin — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 13:39:59 +0000

Against the backdrop of a beautiful, blue fall sky, World War II veteran Gus Siciliano took hold of the rope handed to him and carefully raised the American flag and the black Prisoner of War (POW) flags outside his Vineland, New Jersey home. It was clear to those present that he was overcome with emotion as his poignant wish came true.

Siciliano says he is very proud of his years in the military as a tail-gunner in a B-17 airplane, including one year spent as a prisoner in a Nazi prison camp. Although he is 92 years old and in hospice care for Cancer, he still lives in his home with his wife of 60 years, Helen, and until recently, flew both the U.S. and POW from a flagpole in his front yard. That is, until a recent severe storm destroyed both the flagpole and the flags. Because he and his wife live on a fixed income, they were not able to replace the flagpole on their own.

Knowing how important the flags were to Siciliano, his hospice social worker submitted a wish application on his behalf to Twilight Wish Foundation, requesting assistance with this special wish. Twilight Wish is a national nonprofit that works hard to make the dreams and wishes of low-income senior citizens come true. Twilight Wish put the word out about Siciliano’s wish and a local service organization, Bucks County Service Industry Charities, responded. They raised the money and installed the base for the new flagpole, donating the material, new flags, and their time.

Around the same time, a Twilight Wish employee having work done in her home and mentioned the wish to her contractor, who in his spare time is an active member of the troops support group Warriors’ Watch. The contractor was touched by Siciliano’s story and offered to have members from Warriors’ Watch join in the wish granting. So, one winter day, over 50 riders from Warriors’ Watch arrived at Sicliano’s house to recognize and thank him for his military service. Several of them lifted the flagpole into the concrete base while the others saluted Siciliano.

“Gus, you’re going to raise your own flags, sir,” one of the soldiers said.

Siciliano took hold of the rope and began to raise the flags, saying “this is one of the greatest honors I’ve ever had.” As the bikers rode off, Siciliano saluted his new flags one more time.

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WWII vet takes shelter in local retirement home during Hurricane Sandy

aadmin — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 18:42:56 +0000

Hurricane Sandy had devastating effects in North and Central America, killing nearly 200 people, and causing an estimated $52 billion in damages. But the disaster could have been much worse, had it not been for the kindness of many people.

As reported in the New York Daily News, 91 year-old New York City veteran Abraham Nayowitz and his 89 year-old wife Paula were stranded in their seventh-floor Manhattan apartment, out of power, and running low on food, due to the hurricane outside.

“All this water just came rushing by. It was terrifying,” Paula told the newspaper. What was really scary was that there was no power of any kind.”

In the early stages of the storm, the couple bundled themselves up with blankets and coats, and neighbors came by with food, but when the hurricane persisted, a neighbor called the local fire department to help remove the couple and take them to a safer place.

Abraham has a heart condition, and Paula has arthritis, and so they were fortunate to be taken into Kittay House, a New York independent living community in the Bronx.

There, the Nayowitzes were served a hot meal of turkey, yam, mashed potatoes, and string beans. And despite the scare they endured, Paula told the newspaper she and her husband are grateful for their health, their neighbors, and for each other.

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Veterans Day events: November 10

aadmin — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 14:24:55 +0000

Martin County, FL - There will be a Veterans Day Flag Raising: 3 p.m. Nov. 10. Location: Emeritus at Jensen Beach, 1700 N.E. Indian River Drive, Jensen Beach. 772-225-1355.

All Merrill Gardens locations are hosting USO Support Our Troops fundraising events this coming week, in their locations in Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Montana, Nevada, Texas, and Washington.

For a list of all events and dates, visit: http://cdn11.g5search.com/assets/140219/USO-2012_All-Events_Flyer_5.pdf?1350290677

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Veterans Day events: November 13

aadmin — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 12:40:24 +0000

Sunrise Retirement Living

Pacific Pointe

Tuesday, November 13th - Stars and Stripes Luncheon: Beginning at 11:45am, enjoy a patriotic afternoon with a delicious meal as we honor our local veterans at Pacific Pointe. We also will welcome San Ysidro High School’s ROTC Color Guard with live entertainment by Raymond. For more information or to RSVP, please call (619) 735-7531

For a list of all events and dates, visit: http://cdn11.g5search.com/assets/140219/USO-2012_All-Events_Flyer_5.pdf?1350290677

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Veterans Day events: November 16

aadmin — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 00:04:40 +0000

Sunshine Retirement Living - Villa Serena

Friday, November 16th - Veterans' Seminar: Please join us an informative seminar about Veteran’s benefits and Aid and Attendance at 1:30pm. For more information or to RSVP, please call (408) 600-1176!

For a list of all events and dates, visit: http://cdn11.g5search.com/assets/140219/USO-2012_All-Events_Flyer_5.pdf?1350290677

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Veterans Day events: November 14

aadmin — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 20:35:45 +0000

Sunrise Retirement Living - Dunwoody Pines

Wednesday, November 14th |Veteran’s Presentation: Make sure attend our Veteran’s Presentation starting at 11am to learn about all the benefits of being a Vet. Please RSVP by October 29th. For more information or to RSVP, please call (678) 389-6292.

For a list of all events and dates, visit: http://cdn11.g5search.com/assets/140219/USO-2012_All-Events_Flyer_5.pdf?1350290677

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Veterans Days events: December 14

aadmin — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 20:29:41 +0000

Sunrise Retirement Living - The Continental

Tuesday, December 4th - Veterans Seminar: Join us at 6:30pm for an informative and educational seminar on Aid and Attendance, and relieving financial hardships. Please RSVP by November 27th. For more information or to RSVP, please call (512) 961-5019.

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Veterans Day events: November 12

aadmin — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 19:26:50 +0000

Heritage Woods of McHenry, a BMA affordable assisted living community, is hosting a Veterans Day Celebration that will feature the music of Rick Pickren who is a descendant of Buffalo Bill Cody. He has co-starred in such feature films as "Major League," "U.S. Marshals," and "While You Were Sleeping" and has been on the television shows "ER" and "Early Edition." He has shared the stage with George Strait, Merle Haggard, the Judds, Dolly Parton and Alabama.

The celebration is scheduled for 3 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 12, at Heritage Woods, which is located at 4609 W. Crystal Lake Rd. in McHenry, Illinois.

Sunshine Retirement Living - Summerfield Estates

Monday, November 12th - Veterans Day Celebration and Concert: Please join us at 12:30pm for a special dinner and flag ceremony honoring our vets ($10 for non veterans and FREE for vets that come from outside the community). At 2pm there will be a concert by Charles Suniga Singer. Please RSVP by November 6th.

For more information or to RSVP, please call 503-214-2059!

Sunshine Retirement Living - Tarrytowne Estates

Monday, November 12th - Veterans Day Celebration: Help us honor our Veteran Heroes with a special Prime Rib Dinner at 12 noon. Please RSVP by November 8th. For more information or to RSVP, please call 281-617-1153!

For a list of all events and dates, visit: http://cdn11.g5search.com/assets/140219/USO-2012_All-Events_Flyer_5.pdf?1350290677

Ashby Ponds will be hosting an event (open for media only at their community in Ashburn, Virginia):

Welcome and Opening Remarks: Colonel Al Beyer, US Army (Retired), Ashby Ponds resident
Presentation of Colors:
Singing of the National Anthem
Reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance
Posting of colors – Chantilly Academy Air Force, Junior ROTC Color Guard

Monday, November 12 at 10:00 AM

Cardinal Clubhouse
21170 Ashby Ponds Boulevard
Ashburn, Virginia 20147

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Sunrise Retirement Living

Veterans Day events: November 9

aadmin — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 19:16:27 +0000

Veterans Day social at Commonwealth Assisted Living at Hampton - Hampton, Virginia
Heartland will host the pinning ceremony for our veterans.

Location: 1030 Topping Lane Hampton, VA 23666, United States

For more information, contact: (757) 826-3728

Continental

Friday, November 9th - Veteran’s Day: Join us at 11:45am as Speaker Jim Mickler honors Veteran’s everywhere. Please RSVP by November 2nd! For more information or to RSVP, please call (512) 961-5019.

Pine Village Retirement Communities will host a Veteran’s Day Commemoration on Friday, November 9, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. Location: 3303 Pines Village Circle in Valparaiso Indiana. For more information call 219/465-1591.

Hospice of Medina County - near Akron, OH - is planning pinning ceremonies throughout the area to acknowledge the service and sacrifices made by veterans. Events are planned Nov. 9 at 2 p.m. Location: Western Reserve Masonic Community, 4931 Nettleton Road in Medina; Nov. 12 at 2 p.m. at Emeritus of Medina, 100 High Point Drive; and Nov. 15 at 11 a.m. at Barberton Senior Center, 500 W. Hopocan Ave.

Independence Village of Frankenmuth in Frankenmuth, Michigan, is hosting a Veterans Day Celebration on November 9 at 2pm.

Our way of saying THANK YOU to our veterans!

Entertainment and appetizers provided complimentary.

Proudly wear your red, white and blue!

255 Mayer Road Frankenmuth, MI. (989) 652-4100

For a list of all events and dates, visit: http://cdn11.g5search.com/assets/140219/USO-2012_All-Events_Flyer_5.pdf?1350290677

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