In mid-July, Morning Pointe of Hixson Assisted Living and Memory Care dedicated its new Wall of Honor, honoring 12 veteran residents for their service to the United States Armed Forces.
Each resident was introduced and recognized, and their photos are now displayed proudly on the wall. They represent a variety of branches, and each served in the Korea and Vietnam Wars era. The crowd for the event was standing room-only.
Retired Lt. Col. Jim Driscoll, who served as a platoon leader and public affairs officer in the Army, served as the emcee at the event and helped organize it. He led the pledge of allegiance and presented the flag. The Hixson High School Air Force JROTC Color Guard presented the colors. Morning Pointe of Hixson resident Pat Arnold stepped in as a last-minute speaker. As the sister of a U.S. Marine, she showcased a 500-piece puzzle of the U.S. Medals of Honor that she had completed for the wall.
“The puzzle was hard, but I loved being given the opportunity to do it,” Pat shared. “I’ve always loved our country. I spoke directly to the veterans and told them how they had their own sort of puzzles when they were in the military, and I thanked them for their service.” About the ceremony as a whole, she added, “I thought it was very moving.”
Fellow resident Sherry Dahrling also played a role in the dedication ceremony. An artist, Sherry created a beautiful painting of American flags called “Old Glory” to display with the veterans’ photos on the Wall of Honor.
Resident veterans honored were:
- John Bailey, Air Force
- Michael Barnes, Navy
- Louis “Buddy” Bell, Army
- James Coulter, Marines
- Robert Czarnecki, Army
- William Doyle, Army Reserves
- Donald Grob, Navy
- Joel O’Brien, Navy
- Ernest “Buddy” Parks, Army
- William Wikle, Air National Guard
- Jerry Wilson, Army
- Carl Winton, Air Force
“This is the first time anyone has said more than, ‘Thank you for your service,’ which I appreciate,” said Joel O’Brien, one of the honorees, who served for eight years in the Navy. “The Wall of Honor ceremony was much more, and I really appreciate all that was done to make it such a meaningful night.”
A dessert reception followed the dedication, and families and friends were able to mingle and share their appreciation to the servicemen.
