Annette Turner, administrator at Mercy Health - Oakwood Village agreed. “Veterans have made a lot of sacrifices and gave some of the best years of their life to the service of the United States and stood ready to give their lives on our behalf,” she said. “What a debt we owe to them."
At Springfield Assisted Living, located on Vester Avenue, the Marine Corp League executed a 21-gun salute, the Tecumseh High School ROTC held a flag retirement, four students from Kenton Ridge High School sang God Bless America and the National Anthem, a Day City Hospice Chaplain shared an invocation and a local VFW member said opening remarks.
The event attracted onlookers along Villa Road.
John Rhodes, a 99-year-old Air Force veteran and the oldest resident Springfield Assisted Living, received the retired flag, Neff said.
There are 16veterans - including two women - living at Springfield Assisted Living, Neff said. Each veteran was pinned during the observance.
“They (the residents) told me when they all got done with the service that they were really surprised how well it turned out because of COVID. We did the 6 feet distance, the masks and all of that. We still had a really great crowd for it," Neff said.
Mercy Health – Oakwood Village, located on Villa Road, held a socially distanced car parade to honor veterans. The Marine Corp League executed a 21-gun salute, an Ohio Hospice employee played Amazing Grace and there were several speakers.
Approximately 50 veterans including staff and residents at Oakwood Village were honored, Turner said. Each veteran was pinned.
Turner said in previous years, the event was held in their community room, but due to the pandemic they decided to do an outdoor program.
“This program and parade are small tokens of our appreciation for their service and a way to bring smiles to those who have not been able to go out into the community due to the coronavirus,” Turner said. “We wanted to show them how much we love and appreciate them in a protected way.”
The nursing home facilities honor veterans each year, but this year it meant even more because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The virus has hit older veterans especially hard. Eight of 10 COVID-19 deaths have been reported in adults age 65 or older, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“It means so much to them to know they are appreciated and it means a lot to those residents here that didn’t necessarily serve,” Oakwood Village Spiritual Care Coordinator John McLeod said.
“It was very very touching this year," Neff said.
She added, “We’re just very fortunate, we have not had any COVID in our building and we’re very safe when it comes to all of that and these guys deserve it. I wish we could do something for everybody like that because these guys are all troopers right now.”
Oakwood Village is among several long-term care facilities where COVID-19 outbreaks have occurred, resulting in death in some cases.
“I feel like even though all the coronavirus and not being able to see their family members, it means a lot that even though this is going on that they are being honored - not being forgotten,” Oakwood Village Activity Coordinator in Assisted Living Kristen Dennis said. "They are being alienated because of the virus and we’re honoring them and we want to bless them with this.
“It was just very heartfelt from everybody," Neff said.
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