Honoring Veterans on Their Day

November 11, 2024

Since 1919, the United States has honored all military veterans on Nov. 11. The day was initially known as Armistice Day and this date was chosen because at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, World War I effectively ended when an armistice — a formal document that brings a permanent end to hostilities — went into effect. Armistice Day was renamed Veterans Day 70 years ago. Nov. 11 has been a federal holiday since 1938.

Veterans Day, of course, differs from Memorial Day, which comes at the end of each May; Veterans Day commemorates all U.S. veterans, while Memorial Day, which dates back to the post-Civil War era, specifically remembers all those who have died while in military service in the U.S.

We couldn’t possibly acknowledge individually every one of the countless veterans currently living in senior living communities across the nation, nor could we chronicle all of the dedicated events going on in the industry today, so we honor and recognize them all by spotlighting a few veterans and the communities that are honoring them today.

In Milford, Ohio, Pinebrook (a Watermark retirement community) is honoring 21 of its resident military veterans. The community has curated images of these residents for two Veterans Walls located in different areas of the community. Following the dedication of the Veterans Walls, the entire community is engaging in an onsite Veterans Day program.

At another Watermark community, The Sky Bridge at Town Center in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, residents and associates are celebrating Veterans Day with a special ceremony to honor those in the community who served our country; each of the community’s veterans received a pin at the special event.

One of those residents, William Golden, joined the Air Force in 1989 after working for years in Veterans Affairs as a registered nurse.

“I know the value of a veteran — of a military man and woman,” Golden said in a press release. “We are there to protect everyone. We serve all Americans: black, white, and in-between. We’ve got to do it together, like a team.”

After finishing his service in 1992 as a captain, Golden returned to the VA as a mental health nurse, resulting in a nearly 40-year career before he retired back in June.

“Being a veteran myself, I wanted to work with other veterans. I could use two fields of endeavor to help: one as a professional and one as a peer.”

Another Sky Bridge at Town Center veteran is former Air Force engineer George Hazel, who was working in airplane construction in 1963; during the Vietnam War he joined in the effort as an engineer for B-52 aircraft.

“They were looking for people to go to Connecticut to build aircraft engines, put up fliers in the Pratt-Whitney Aircraft factory, and I took them up on it,” Hazel said. “It was a great opportunity!”

Meanwhile, Veterans Day has become more than a holiday on the calendar for residents at CC Young in Dallas. For 18 years, the CC Young team has gone to great lengths to honor and recognize the U.S. veterans who call the community home. This year, CC Young is hosting 55 resident veterans with nine days of festivities to ensure that those who served — residents and staff — understand the deep appreciation and respect CC Young has for them.

“We are proud of our men and women who have played an important part in defending our freedoms and want to recognize and pay tribute to their service and sacrifice,” said CC Young CEO Russell Crews. “This is a labor of love for us, and a great deal of thoughtful planning has gone into this year’s celebration. We invite the community to come to CC Young and help us honor our CC Young military service men and women and recognize a veteran they may know.”

The CC Young veterans photo gallery began in 2006 when a resident veteran asked other veterans for their pictures and brief outlines of their military experience. The Wall of Honor features CC Young veterans’ professional photos, their service photos, and biographies. The Memorial Wall acknowledges deceased veterans whose spouses are current CC Young residents. The installation of the Wall of Honor and Memorial Wall takes staff and volunteers roughly two full days to complete. It is one component of several patriotic activities commemorating the CC Young men and women who served in America’s armed forces. Both are on exhibit in The Point during November.

New this year is the Vietnam Era Veterans Pinning Ceremony, which will honor the 36
CC Young Vietnam veterans who served during the 20-year span of the Vietnam conflict from 1955 to 1975.

“The Vietnam era veterans came home to a country that did not give the same warm welcome home as other military servicemen received,” Crews added. “This recognition ceremony will surround these veterans with the deep appreciation they deserve for their call to duty, and honorably recognize them and their families for their sacrifices.”