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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 6, 2019)
8 Wednesday, November 6, 2019 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon A final salute to those who answered the call By Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief One of the most sacred obligations undertaken by Hospice of Redmond is hon- oring military veterans in their last days. The population of aging veterans is growing, and Hospice Veterans Outreach Coordinator Maureen Krebs notes that <generally, about one-third of our patients are veterans.= Krebs, herself a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, has assembled a team of dedi- cated volunteers who fully appreciate the unique needs and desires of veterans as they enter their twilight. There are aspects of military service that the most caring and empa- thetic civilian cannot quite grasp; shared experience can mean a lot. Thus, having vet- erans reach out to veterans becomes a key element of hos- pice care. <There are certain things that we all go through as vet- erans,= Krebs said. Don DeLand, a U.S. Navy veteran of the Vietnam War, got involved with Hospice of Redmond through the Wall of Honor, which stands at the organization9s Redmond office at 732 SW 23rd St., Redmond. DeLand is the commander of the honor guard at the Wall. Each third Wednesday of the month at 4:30 p.m., there is a gather- ing to play <Taps= at the Wall, where the names of departed veterans are inscribed. It9s <just a few minutes to honor all of those on the Wall,= DeLand said. And those few minutes are profound. DeLand also attends pin- ning ceremonies. < I t 9s v e r y i n f o r m a l , but very personal,= Krebs explained. Hospice volunteers join a patient and his or her family, describe the veteran9s service and present the veteran with a certificate and a pin commem- orating that service. < We g i v e t h e m a final salute,= Krebs said <Oftentimes, we9ve seen that it really gives them peace in their final days and hours.= Christine Gittins, an Army veteran and retired law enforcement officer, recalled arriving to the bedside of a dying Vietanam veteran. The man was unconscious. <I did the pinning cer- emony and thanked him for his service,=Gittins recalled. <At that time, he woke up and he moved and he smiled a little bit& and he passed away about five minutes later. That meant everything to the family.= Gittins, like the other vet- eran volunteers, find in the Hospice program a new way to fulfill their lifelong desire 4 their need 4 to serve. Gittins discovered Hospice when her grandparents were dying. <I was so blown away by their services that I wanted to give back,= she said. Dr. Thomas R. Rheuben General, Cosmetic, Implant and Family Dentistry ~ Your Dentist in Sisters Since 1993 ~ We are here to help you smile with confi dence! 541-549-0109 | 304 W. Adams Ave. | Sisters Larry Morris, who was drafted into the Army in 1966 and served in Vietnam, has been helping veterans for decades. It started with help- ing one of his best friends, who lost a leg to an anti-per- sonnel mine in Vietnam. <I came back from Vietnam alive and in one piece,= he said. <You kind of go through a guilt thing. A lot of people don9t get that 4 but I started giving back then.= Morris taught his friend to waterski on one leg, and the man went on to become an accomplished ski athlete both on water and on the slopes. Morris recalls visiting with a World War II veteran who was confronted with severe memory issues. Despite his troubles, the man remained upbeat. <Really, I learned a lot from that gentleman,= Morris said. Tim Benesh, who retired recently after a 28-year career in the Navy, also gets a lot out of his service with Hospice. <One of the biggest things that I9ve missed in the two- and-a-half years I9ve been retired is the camaraderie you have with other members of the military,= he said. <It9s nice to talk to somebody who has a shared experience.= That shared experience can loom larger and larger, Benesh said, as an elderly per- son looks back on their life9s course. <As you reflect on your life, that becomes a very PHOTO PROVIDED William ‘Bill’ Sexton, who served 32 years in three branches of service (U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Army Air Corps and Air Force) starting in World War II. significant piece,= he said. The experience of serving those who served at the end of their lives is a powerful one. <It seems almost a duty,= Benesh said. <There9s such a need to connect with these folks. I think it9s a huge thing that we do, and I think, what better way to pay it back.= Gittins concurs: <It9s just been a really rewarding P Painted a i n t e d L Lady a d y Antiques experience to serve these vet- erans because I think it means a lot to them. I really do.= More information on the Wall of Honor can be found at https://www.hospiceof redmond.org/wall-of-honor. To find out more about Hospice of Redmond9s vet- erans programs, visit https:// www.hospiceofredmond.org/ we-honor-veterans-2. Veterans - We Salute You! Your Care is open for your medical needs every day – including Veteran’s Day. For our veterans... 50% off DOT Physicals through Wednesday, 11/20/19. (Must have this ad to redeem) 541-548-2899 YourCareMedical.com 541.904.0066 141 E. Cascade Ave., Suite 104 Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 7 days a week 3818 SW 21st Pl. • Hwy. 126 to Redmond, two turns and you’re there! (Near fairgrounds) WALK-IN • URGENT CARE • WORK COMP • DOT PHYSICALS Red Tag Savings! 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