A few weeks ago, World War II veteran John Faust checked something off his bucket list. He had always wanted to parachute from a plane. So when The Holmstad, a retirement community where he lives in Batavia, offered to take veterans for a ride in an open-air biplane, he jumped at the chance.
The flight was courtesy of Ageless Aviation Dreams Foundation, a national nonprofit organization that offers free so-called “Dream Flights” to senior military veterans living in retirement communities. Dozens of veterans at local retirement communities have experienced the flights.
Taking off from DuPage County Airport, Faust sat in the front seat of the fully restored Boeing Stearman biplane, the kind used to train military aviators during World War II. The pilot sat behind Faust, who wore goggles and a helmet, just like in the movies.
“The air was rushing by me,” recalls Faust, who laughs and then comments that the ride was close enough to a parachute jump to fulfill his bucket-list dream. “It was wonderful.”
Now and then
As Veterans Day approaches, residents of retirement communities are stepping up to honor the military. Many communities have residents and resident groups that help veterans and also those on active military duty in various ways, from honoring those who served in the past to creating and donating items to those serving now overseas. Residents at Senior Star at Weber Place, a retirement community in south suburban Romeoville, are collecting and packaging items to be sent to those currently serving in the armed forces. Items such as dry food, DVDs, and toiletries are being solicited from residents, family members and employees.
The items will be packaged with homemade cards created by the residents and school children who regularly visit the community. Photos of veterans who reside at Senior Star will also be included along with words of encouragement. The packages are being assembled by Senior Star residents from the memory care unit.
When complete, the packages will be delivered to Operation Care Package, a nonprofit organization in Manhattan, Illinois, whose mission is to make sure no deployed service member goes without mail.
To honor residents who are veterans, Senior Star also holds a special Veterans Day memorial service. Prior to the event, residents will construct giant red poppy flowers, the symbol of Veterans Day. The flowers will be placed in the ground near the flagpole by residents during the Veterans Day service.
“We want to honor our veterans,” says Jennifer Boonstra, program director of memory care at Senior Star at Weber Place. “One of our obligations is to give back.”
A salute to service
Veterans at retirement communities usually have a strong bond. They reach out to each other, and to those currently in the service.
Frank Perhats lives at Lake Barrington Woods, a retirement community in Lake Barrington. He helps to raise funds for equipment needed by the veteran’s hospital in North Chicago. Other residents have made decorative plates that are sold to make money to donate to veteran’s groups.
Many local retirement communities help to facilitate the Honor Flight Chicago program. It brings World War II and Korean War veterans to Washington, D.C., for a day of honor and remembrance at no cost to them. Veterans returning from the trip who live at Smith Village and Smith Crossing are greeted by staff members of the retirement communities.
Bert Nevin, a resident at GreenFields of Geneva, organized the veterans who reside at the retirement community in the western suburb. The group started with 14 veterans and now has 83 members, including young veterans who work on the staff at GreenFields.
“It’s important to know and support each other,” says Nevin, a WWII veteran who served in Europe and attended the Nuremberg trials of Nazi war criminals.
On Veterans Day, GreenFields holds a breakfast for veterans. “It’s run like we were back in the military,” says Nevin. A sign on the dining room door says, “Mess Hall.” The meal consists of dried beef on a biscuit with gravy — the rations common during the war. “It’s fun to hear everyone’s stories,” says Nevin.
The community also holds a memorial service. The names of veterans are read, and patriotic music is played.
Veterans Day
Veterans Day programs sometimes have a different twist.
Park Place of Elmhurst partners with Timothy Christian School for an intergenerational program. Students studying World War II and the Korean War visit Park Place to interview and learn from the senior veterans of those conflicts.
On Veterans Day, an assembly is held at the school to honor the veterans at Park Place. Other residents are invited to attend the ceremony. High school students and teachers take time out of their day and join the assembly too.
This year, a chaplain who served in Vietnam will speak, along with a Korean War veteran. Another veteran will read his poem, “Veterans Such as These” — a tribute to those who have served.
Westminster Place in Evanston has a special Veterans Day program every year. A musical guest performs patriotic songs. A slide show includes photos of resident veterans. The community’s chaplain and executive director give speeches.
“We have a large number of veterans, about 90, from World War II,” says Nancy Ichinose, director of community programs at Westminster Place.
A few years ago, the community’s health care director, Linda Dotson, herself a veteran, helped to produce a video that showcases veterans at Westminster Place. The veterans, both men and women, recount the most moving stories from their time in the military, one after another.
At the end of the video, each veteran salutes the camera. With the last salute, a proud veteran, Bill Redlich, who served in the Army Air Corps, says, “To the guys.” And the credits roll: “Thank you for serving.”
