A military veteran resident (left) joins American Legion Chaplain James Warunek (second from left); American Legion Service Officer and Army veteran Frank Roche; World War II Navy veteran and Pearl Harbor survivor John Williams, 104; Navy veteran Denise Murphy; and Army veteran Allen Bray for the unveiling of a new display wall May 28 honoring veterans living at Maple Heights Senior Living Community in Allen Park.
By SUE SUCHYTA
Sunday Times Newspapers
ALLEN PARK – American Legion and other veterans representatives joined residents at Maple Heights Senior Living Community April 28 to honor its resident veterans with a wall honoring their service.
World War II veteran and Pearl Harbor survivor John Williams, 104, helped cut the ceremonial ribbon to open the display with the help of American Legion Chaplain James Warunek, American Legion Service Officer and Army veteran Frank Roche, American Legion Navy veteran Denise Murphy and Army veteran and Veterans Administration representative Allen Bray.
Maple Heights Life Enrichment Coordinator April Russell said the veterans wall ribbon cutting ceremony commemorates the more than 20 veterans living in the senior community.
“We’ve taken their pictures, we are putting them on the wall and we’re revealing it today,” she said. “It’s amazing, just the different wars that they have all fought in, and just that they’ve risked their lives and dedicated themselves to our country.”
American Legion Service Officer Frank Roche (second from left, at microphone), speaks to veterans at Maple Heights Senior Living Community in Allen Park May 28 to celebrate the unveiling of a new display wall honoring veterans in the complex.
Russell said she is so pleased to be able to honor the senior community’s military veterans, who served in World War II, Korea, Vietnam and the Middle East.
She said many of the veterans are in their 90s.
“They are here to share their stories,” Russell said. “A lot of times our veterans are very reserved in what they want to share, and for them to come here and share their experiences and what they went through and all that they have done for us is incredible.”
She said the gathering was very emotional for her.
“When it comes to our veterans and them sacrificing, it’s just heartwarming,” Russell said. “We take things for granted every day and we don’t realize what they’ve been through.”
Bray said the United States needs to know more about its veterans and appreciate their service and what their families go through.
“They support the country and our freedom,” he said.
Veterans living at Maple Heights Senior Living Community in Allen Park gather May 28 to celebrate the unveiling of a new display wall honoring veterans in the complex.
Maple Heights Senior Living Community in Allen Park unveils a new display wall honoring veterans April 28 at the complex.