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Veterans' appreciation

The Jonesboro Sun - 5/31/2017

My Dad was recently admitted to the Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House. My sister called to tell me that every Friday the local DAV chapter stops in if there has been a veteran admitted, and they award a certificate and statue. In my mind I was expecting three or four veterans to come in. I could not have been more wrong.

On that Friday morning there was a knock at the door and Daddy's room began to fill with veterans as well as hospice staff. That in itself caught me by surprise. Once they were all in the room, one man began to read the certificate of appreciation to my Dad who had served in the Navy for four years. They also had a statue with his name engraved on the bottom. When I asked Daddy if he knew what it was he immediately responded "A sailor."

After the certificate was read, the men were all called to attention, called my Dad's name and thanked him for his service to our country. At that time they all saluted my Dad. As I stood there and watched, I saw my Dad raise his hand slowly and salute them in return. I was so overcome I began to cry.

The staff told me later they look forward to seeing these veterans return and perform the ceremony each time a veteran is admitted there as it is so emotional and filled with utmost respect.

I would like your readers to know there are many things these veterans do that are never brought to attention. This being only one of them. I would also like to thank each and every veteran who was there to reward my Dad that day. I am even more overwhelmed now as he has since passed away.

So when you see our veterans now please not only respect them for their service to our country, but for the many things such as this one they do once their service has ended. I am so very thankful I was there to watch the pride and respect with which they honored my Dad. Thank you to each and every single one.

Marcia Walters

Jonesboro