Christian Health Care Center Holds Special Flag Day Ceremony

Wyckoff, NJ… Residents and staff at Christian Health Care Center (CHCC) recently took time to celebrate Flag Day with a special program for invited guests on a beautiful morning outdoors on the Commons lawn. Founded on June 14, 1777, Flag Day was established to remember the adoption of the United States flag. Serving as a reminder for the freedom American colonists achieved so long ago, the United States Flag deserves the respect and honor of all United States citizens.

A moving ceremony was led by Douglas A. Struyk, CPA, LNHA, CHCC President and CEO. During the ceremony, Mr. Struyk honored all those who have served and continue to serve our country, and recognized the service of the late U.S. Air Force veteran Charles “Chuck” Mac Rae, a former resident of North Haledon. During Mr. Mac Rae’s recent funeral, his wife Linda Mac Rae, was presented with the United States flag in his honor, which she then gave to CHCC as a token of gratitude for all that the facility does for the community. Mrs. Mac Rae attended with members of her family and other friends, and spoke at the ceremony to express her thanks to Christian Health Care Center for honoring the service of her husband.

“We were so humbled when Mrs. Mac Rae presented us with the flag that she received on behalf of the President and our country at her husband’s funeral service this past December,” said Douglas Struyk, President and CEO of CHCC. “When we raised it on Flag Day in the presence of Mrs. Mac Rae, her family, and friends, along with some of our residents, staff, and children from our Longview Assisted Living Residence Child Day-care program, it was especially meaningful to all who were present. We gave thanks for the service of Chuck Mac Rae and so many men and women throughout our country’s history that served in our Armed Forces to ensure our freedoms and the gifts of liberty.”

CHCC employees and U.S. veterans Ray Finamore and Larry Castiglia, under the watchful eye of CHCC resident and U.S. veteran, Ernest Nardone, were charged with raising the flag that Linda had gifted CHCC. The two veterans raised the flag while those assembled sang the “Star Spangled Banner”, accompanied by Ramapo High School student Freddy Mola, on his trumpet. Pre-school children from CHCC’s child day care program led everyone assembled in the Pledge of Allegiance. It was a wonderful opportunity for CHCC residents, staff, and guests to pay their respects to the American flag and what it symbolizes. It was also a reverent occasion to remember the service of Mr. Mac Rae and all other veterans who worked to ensure that the nation’s flag still flies with pride and honor.

CHCC provides a broad continuum of high-quality, compassionate care, offering superior senior-life, short-term rehab, and mental-health services. As a non-profit organization, we deliver care to our community based upon the Christian principles on which we were founded more than a century ago.

For more information about Christian Health Care Center, visit ChristianHealthCare.org.

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Left to right: Douglas A. Struyk, CPA, LNHA, CHCC President and CEO, Linda Mac Rae, Freddy Mola.