Area Veterans to be Recognized During Free Luncheon Program at LCCC on Oct. 29
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Veterans of all wars and conflicts and all branches of the Armed Forces and their families are invited to attend a free luncheon and public Veterans Recognition Ceremony on Tuesday, Oct. 29, hosted by Lorain County Community College (LCCC), 1005 North Abbe Rd., Elyria, in collaboration with Hospice of the Western Reserve (HWR). The event will be held in the Spitzer Conference Center. Doors will open at 11 a.m. The luncheon and program will begin at 11:30 a.m. To RSVP, call 216.430.0955 or email cstrang@hospicewr.org. The deadline for reservations is Tuesday, Oct. 15.
A highlight of the event will be a moving ceremony during which each veteran will be recognized for his or her service and presented with a commemorative lapel pin. The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), Nathan Perry Chapter, will play a special role, honoring all Vietnam Era veterans. More than 150 veterans and their family members are expected to attend.
Luncheon speakers will be Mary Reynolds Powell, a U.S. Army nurse, and Bill Brokop, Honor Flight Cleveland Board Member. Powell served at the 24th Evacuation Hospital at Long Binh, Vietnam, from 1970-71. Her book, “A World of Hurt: Between Innocence and Arrogance in Vietnam,” provides an account of her own experiences that includes the stories of several friends who served with her. Brokop will highlight the inspirational work of Honor Flight, which pays tribute to U.S. veterans by providing them with all-expense-paid trips to Washington DC to visit the memorials honoring their service.
Nate Gradisher, HWR Provider Relations Manager, will share information about how the nonprofit agency supports veterans living with advanced illness and their families through its Peaceful & Proud program. The agency is also a partner in the Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War, a Department of Defense program to thank and honor our nation’s Vietnam veterans and their families for their service and sacrifice.