VITAS Healthcare Honors Veterans at Moving 6th Annual Remembrance Event
07/03/2015
Members of the U.S. Congress joined more than 250 people at the sixth annual Veterans Remembrance event hosted by VITAS Healthcare, including U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, who addressed the crowd from the historic USS Nautilus, the world's first operational nuclear-powered submarine. (Photograph by Eric Fordham Photography)
GROTON, CT. – July 3, 2015 – VITAS Healthcare, the nation’s leading provider of end-of-life care, hosted the sixth annual Veterans Remembrance event at the Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Conn. on June 19, 2015. More than 250 local veterans, families and members of the community, including State Representatives John Scott, R-Groton, Kathleen McCarty, R-Waterford, and state Senator Cathy Osten, D-Sprague, gathered on the pier of the USS Nautilus to honor those that have served in the U.S. military.
Paying Tribute
Remarks were made by keynote speaker Connecticut National Guard Assistant Adj. Gen. Mark Russo. The inspirational event included patriotic music, a color guard performance, a flag folding ceremony and a military remembrance ceremony led by Bud Atkins, a 2014 inductee of the Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame.
VITAS General Manager Michelle Hanlon notes the annual remembrance event is VITAS’ way of paying tribute to our nation’s veterans and giving back to the community.
Showing Our Commitment to Veterans
Among the speakers was U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District. Quoted by The Day, he said, “VITAS shows its commitment to veterans in many, many other places all across the state of Connecticut. Many VITAS employees are people who wore the uniform of this country in past conflicts and many of them are here today.”
Prime examples are VITAS Veteran Liaisons Sean Emond, Wayne Rioux and Jim Denicola, all U.S. military veterans whose role at VITAS is to provide assistance and education to veterans about their end-of-life care benefits.
“As a national partner of the ‘We Honor Veterans’ campaign, VITAS offers a specialized level of hospice care designed to meet the specific needs of terminally ill veteran patients and their families,” said VITAS Veteran Liaison Sean Emond. “We realize that past military service profoundly affects veterans as they age, and our healthcare experts agree it is critical for their end-of-life care providers to understand, anticipate and address these needs.”
Our Customized Care
VITAS serves patients and their families throughout Connecticut and is dedicated to providing high quality end-of-life care for all veterans. Recognizing that everyone has unique needs as they approach the end of life, VITAS provides customized clinical, spiritual and emotional care for patients and their families. For more information contact us online or call 866.41.VITAS.
Above: Navy sailors from the Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton assemble in preparation for their salute to veterans and all active military who selflessly serve our nation. Photograph by Eric Fordham Photography.
Above: left to right, Office of Joe Courtney Veterans Case Worker Ryan McKenna, VITAS Veteran Liaisons Sean Emond and Wayne Rioux stand proud at the Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton. Photograph by Eric Fordham Photography.
Above: VITAS Healthcare is thankful to its Connecticut team who served as host at the well-received sixth annual Veterans Remembrance event at the Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton on Friday, June 19, 2015. Photograph by Eric Fordham Photography.