Honoring Our Veterans at MVNRC

On November 10^th, 2023, our Veterans were honored and saluted at our Veterans Day Program led by Marine, Nick Hawkey. Nick has been leading our Veterans Day Program for the past 20 years. After some welcoming words by CM, Nancy S, of the Activities Department, to our residents, family members, staff, and veterans, Nick led us in reciting the “Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag”. Nancy directed us in singing the “National Anthem”. She also shared interesting facts about the history of Veterans Day. Nick conversed about some of his personal experiences while serving in the Marine Corp.

We joined Nancy in singing “America the Beautiful”, which was then followed by Nick reading the poem, “In Flanders Field” by John McCrae. At this time Nick presented a Certificate of Appreciation and a Flag Pin, to the Veterans who were sitting at the front of the room, with a salute, a hand shake, and encouraging and appreciative words. This year, the certificates and pins were graciously provided by Compassus.

Each person, in attendance, was called upon to announce their family members who also served in the military, so they could be remembered and honored as well. Emotions ran high throughout the program including pride, happiness, sadness, and some tears. We agreed that we are all proud to be Americans and so thankful for those who served to keep us free.

After Nancy closed the program with a prayer, we sang “God Bless America”. The Veterans were escorted by activity staff from the Grande Room, one at a time, as they received cheers and applause for their service by those in attendance.

Veteran’s Day 2021

On Veteran’s Day, we held our annual Celebration where Nick Hawkey came and he and Nancy S performed a ceremony to honor our Veterans.

Nick is a Retired Corporal with the US Marine Corps and also is a member of the Marine Corps League Bethlehem Detachment 284 and American Legion, Palmerton. Nick has been coming to the facility for at least the last 16 years performing this for us.

We sang some Patriot songs, listened to poems, Pledged the Flag, and each Veteran was presented with a Certificate from the facility.

It was a very heartwarming ceremony seeing our Veterans salute the flag as well as salute Nick when they were receiving their Certificates.

God Bless the USA

Veterans Day Celebration 2019

How do you honor a Veteran?

Honoring our veteran is important they served our country sometime at great sacrifice. So deciding to celebrate and thank our veterans during Veteran’s Day is important.

So how can you honor a veteran?

We put together a list to offer some suggestions how you can thank a Veteran on Veterans Day.

Just Say “thank you!” – Take a moment to thanks those who served our country with a thank you.
Write a letter or card to a veteran. – Take a moment to write a letter or send a card. Talk with the staff at a local nursing home like Mahoning Valley Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. To get matched with a veteran who you can meet or send a card to celebrate their service.
Volunteer – Offer to volunteer. MVNRC (Mahoning Valley Nursing and Rehabilitation Center) is always looking for volunteers to talk with and help celebrate with our veterans.
How about lunch or dinner – If you have a veteran in the family or neighborhood. Treat them to lunch / dinner for their service. Let them tell you about their time in the military. I’m sure they would enjoy that.
Help with some chores – Take time to offer to help a veteran by offering to do some chores. Shovel snow, clean leaves, or other things that they might need help with. This would be a great way to show your appreciation. Call MVNRC today to volunteer.
Buy Veteran Owned. – Need a good or service, veterans often own businesses once out of the military. Why not decide buy from a veteran owned business.
Sponsor a Parade – Choose to help, or support local veteran parades or causes that celebrate and thank veterans for their service. You’ll never see more proud and honorable people then that of those who have served in the United States military. Help them keep the traditions like parades going for future generations.
Invite them to give speeches – Have a veteran come speak to your group, school or event. Let them tell you about serving in the military. How it changed their life or a allow them to show you a window into a moment of time that they served our great country while in the military.
Always remember our Veterans – This one is the most important thing is if only for 5 minutes or 1 hour take a moment to thank a veteran. Mahoning Valley Nursing and Rehabilitation Center does its best to take time to celebrate Veterans Day with the residents of MVNRC.

Celebrating Our Proud Veterans

Monday during Veteran’s Day celebrations H.F. Nick Hawkey, USMC, Detachment #284 and Major Douglas Graves, USMC, Detachment # 284 came to honor our Veterans and partake in the ceremony. They also presented our Veterans with a Certificate of Honor. We have 23 Veterans currently. Although not all participated in the ceremony, they all received a Certificate from the facility.

Veterans Day – 2018

MVNRC – Nick Speaking to vets

Nick Hawkey came and did a nice program for our veterans. He also brought some WWI memorabilia for everyone to see. All veterans received a Certificate of Appreciation from the facility. It was a very touching program.