San Jose (Ca.) Kaiser Permanente honors, acknowledges its heroes

Nurse leader Regina Reyes got a medallion for her father, an 87-year-old veteran of World War Two. Nurse Leader Tammy School got a medallion for her service in the US Army, retiring as a sergeant. Paul Cauble, the hospital’s Security Director, came to the ceremony to receive a medallion honoring his military service as a Provost Marshall. Dozens of others came to the Kaiser Permanente San Jose Farmer’s Market courtyard to witness the medical center acknowledge and honor those on its staff who are military veterans.
“They come to us with great skills and abilities,” said Irene Chavez, Senior Vice President and Area Manager of the Kaiser Permanente San Jose Medical Center, who presided over the pre-Memorial-Day ceremony. “We want to honor them today.”
What had been a cloudy morning became sunny as an American Legion Color Guard solemnly posted the flags of California and the United States at the edges of a small stage. In recognition of Memorial Day, Kaiser Permanente is holding ceremonies like this at its medical centers in Northern California to honor the memories of all who have died during military service, and to recognize veterans of past wars and active-duty military personnel.
Inscribed with the words “In Appreciation of Your Sacrifice for Our Country,” the medallion was handed to each of the Kaiser Permanente San Jose military family members and military service veterans who lined up answering the gentle order from medical center leader Terri Simpson-Tucker, “Fall in.”
A stirring a cappella rendition of the Star Spangled Banner started the noon-hour ceremony at San Jose, and it ended with the retiring of the colors by the American Legionnaires.