U.S. Marine Veteran calls Chestnut Knoll "Home"

Veterans Day is a time to honor Veterans and all they have done for our country. It’s a time to show respect for heroes who have sacrificed for our freedom. Chestnut Knoll Personal Care and Memory Care is proud to be home to 29 veterans and each one has a different story to tell. Although each story is special in its own way, Pauline Rohrbach’s might be a little more unique than others. Pauline is a U.S. Marine Veteran, and not only was she a woman who joined the Marines, but she was a woman joining with her twin sister.

Pauline “Polly” Rohrbach was born in McClure, Pa., to a family of six girls and two boys. Her one brother, Marlin (Bud), joined the Marines as a Marine Air Force plane mechanic, stationed in Cherry Point, N.C., and then Guam. Following in his footsteps, Polly and her twin sister Kay joined the Marines, enlisting soon after women were allowed in the Marines to fill positions to relieve the men to fight.

Their induction ceremony was in Philadelphia, Pa., and they were later stationed in Camp Lejeune, N.C. Both women were noncommissioned officers in charge of different barracks. Polly said it was a very regimented lifestyle. They had a schedule and stuck to it, but they also had time to go to church, sing in the choir and relax and enjoy their downtime. Both women served until the end of the war.

Polly married her husband, the late Daniel Rohrbach, who was first a teacher and then became principal of Boyertown High School, until finally he became County Superintendent of Schools. They donated the Rohrbach Pavilion at the Boyertown Community Park. Polly’s hobbies included sewing, knitting, softball and tennis. They have two children, Linda (a local artist), and Tom (a retired teacher/administrator), and four grandchildren.

Polly moved to Chestnut Knoll in January 2015 and she enjoys the busy community lifestyle. She gets involved with a variety of activities and events, and is an active participant in the Fox Rehab Optimal Living program. She and sister Kay, who lives in Greensburg, Pa., talk on the phone every Saturday. Their brother Bud now lives in Easton.

Chestnut Knoll is taking the time to honor and thank resident Veterans during a special music program on November 11. Resident Veterans will also be participating in program at Boyertown High School that is designed to honor Veterans.

“Chestnut Knoll is lucky to have Polly as a resident. We are very proud of her, her family members, and all our other residents who are veterans – and we love to hear their stories. We have a lot of history here at Chestnut Knoll inside our residents!” said Shawn Barndt, executive director.

Learn more about care and services that are available for personal care, memory care, and home care, by calling Chestnut Knoll at 610-473-8066.

Chestnut Knoll offers Personal Care and Memory Care residences at an affordable month-to-month basis with no buy-in fees. Services include 24-hour personal care assistance with medical support, meals, housekeeping, social events, transportation, and a state-of-the-art wellness program that provides ongoing therapy services, regardless of insurance coverage. Chestnut Knoll also offers At Home care services available to seniors where they live. Services include assistance with medication monitoring, personal care, companion care, light housekeeping and laundry, and transportation, to name a few. For more information on Chestnut Knoll Personal Care, Memory Care, or At Home Services, please call Shawn Barndt, executive director, at 610-473-8066 or visit www.chestnutknoll.com.