Two Brooklyn Nursing Homes Pay Tribute to Their Veterans

by Jeff Jacomowitz

Residents and families at two Brooklyn nursing homes and rehabilitation facilities were touched when their facilities paid homage to their bravery and time-served to the country. Both locations, Centers Health Care facilities, honored their veterans by saluting them with a heartfelt ceremonial salute during the week leading up to Veterans Day.

Staff from Brooklyn Center, a 215-bed nursing home and rehabilitation facility on Coney Island Avenue and Bushwick Center, with 225 beds on Sheffield Avenue in Bushwick, made sure that their residents were recognized with photos of each veteran placed at the "Wall of Honor", a poster that included all of the branches of the U.S. government. A cherry wood display case including a flag that flew over the U.S. Capitol in Washington DC earlier this year, was included with a certificate handed out by distinguished guests.

"Just to be part of their lives is priceless," said Maria Machado, Recreation Director at Bushwick Center. "Now it's time for us to give back to them, for all of the years they kept us safe."

At Brooklyn Center, special guests were two from New York City's finest, NYPD Police Officers Hector Vargas and Candice Harris, both from the 70th Precinct on Lawrence Avenue in Brooklyn, and they handed out certificates to the veterans there. At Bushwick Center, Brooklyn’s own Sgt. Leamon Grady and Sgt. Stan A. Foster, both from the U.S. Army, were on-hand for the certificates part of the ceremony, saluting each veteran. In fact, Sgt. Grady is no stranger to Bushwick Center as he visits the veterans and the staff often.

"This was such a beautiful ceremony and everyone was so emotional," said Sumaiyyah Bhatti, co-Director of Recreation at Brooklyn Center. "We are so honored to have them here."

(Cover photo: U.S. Army Sgt. Grady, left, and Sgt. Foster Salute Brooklyn Center Resident Jin Ma After Handing Him His Certificate of Honor)