The Westview News

Press Release
Veterans Day 2022
Date
November 16, 2022

      Today we honor Veterans at Westview Health Care Center and Country Living at Westview Commons, across our country, and throughout our nation’s history. The debt we owe our service men and women is profound—so on this and every Veterans Day we do our best to tribute the tremendous sacrifices and triumphant duty performed by the members of the United States Armed Forces.

      On such a significant day, we greatly appreciate the added pomp and circumstance provided by our special guests. Joining us from American Legion Leo J. L’Homme/William Burdock Post 21 was Charles Crowley, Comander; Charles Lalumiere, Chaplain; Robert Kelly; and Thomas Gaylord. The added dignity they bring to our Veterans Day program by presenting arms and colors always sets the tone of significance. The formal portion of our program began with the National Anthem, an invocation, and the Pledge of Allegiance. All who were able were invited to rise, and powerful moments like this make everyone in the room want to stand a little taller. The Veterans present were then offered American flags and personal thanks by Post 21—these Star-Spangled Banners would later be key elements in the tribute that followed. A poem titled “The Noble and the Brave” was read to the attending patriots, followed by a moment of silence, then all heard the sobering trumpet tone of Taps. To conclude this portion of the Veterans Day honors the dispatch from Post 21 returned to offer a closing benediction and retire the colors.

      Entertainer and veteran USO performer Val Rogers—along with her accompanying pianist Bill Groth and trumpeter Peter Olson—brought a catalog of American songs and sentiments to share with our resident and Veteran audience. There is a respectful variety in their performance: some songs snappy, some sweet, and some somber. Val’s personal and professional experiences give extra gravity to her presentation on this day. Great reverence is transmitted in every note and word she offers during introspective moments and melodies. When it is time for a more vivacious song (like the World War II radio classics and Service Branch Medley she performs) she brings out an especially interactive flair to reach the audience. Another perpetually fun segment of Val's show is her sing-a-long sessions; encouraging all present to join in the lyrics and wave their American flags through the air.

      We give immense thanks to the honorable members of American Legion Post 21, Val Rogers and her talented musicians, and our own dedicated staff for making sure that we observe this occasion with a properly respectful and stirringly entertaining program. Today is Veterans Day: a day where all Americans have a duty to thank our service men and service women for the freedoms we share. Tomorrow, the day after that, and every day that follows are just as important for expressing gratitude to our military Veterans. With great pride and admiration, we thank our American service Veterans—past and present.

Westview Health Care Center is a 103-bed inpatient skilled nursing facility, which includes a distinct and self-contained 28-bed sub-acute short term rehabilitation unit and outpatient physical, occupational and speech therapies including: Sports Medicine, Adolescent/Pediatric, Adult, and Aquatic Outpatient Centers, all dedicated to providing outstanding quality health care services. The Dayville, Connecticut facility is consistently ranked among the top nursing facilities in the nation, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services as well as U.S. News and World Report, consecutively for the past years.