We Honor Veterans
We Honor Veterans is a program dedicated to recognizing and thanking veterans and their families for their service and sacrifice to our country.
Veteran Support
Gilchrist partners with local VA offices to ensure our teams understand veterans’ unique end-of-life needs. We honor this special group through thoughtful conversations, life review, and meaningful Salute to Service ceremonies that recognize and respect their service.
Our Commitment
Since July 2012, Gilchrist has achieved all four levels of the We Honor Veterans partnership program. This designation reflects our ongoing commitment to enhancing the care we provide to veterans and their families. Earning the highest program rating demonstrates our dedication to delivering exceptional end-of-life support for those who have served.
Salute to Service Ceremonies
Gilchrist’s Salute to Service initiative honors our hospice patients who are veterans with a powerful tribute of gratitude for their service to our country—often the final public “thank you” they will receive.
Working closely with each veteran’s family, Gilchrist staff and members of our Veteran Volunteer Task Force—many in full dress uniform—conduct a formal ceremony. During the tribute, veterans are presented with a military service lapel pin, a certificate, and a hand-knit American flag blanket. Our veteran volunteers give the salute command and then turn to salute the patient—a gesture many veterans proudly return.
This meaningful program brings pride, comfort, and peace to veterans while gathering family and friends to honor a loved one’s military service.
Over the years, Gilchrist has performed hundreds of Salute to Service ceremonies, from intimate bedside tributes to large community events. We invite you to explore some of their stories and witness the impact of this heartfelt tradition.
Intentional Veteran Support
At Gilchrist, we are deeply committed to honoring and supporting veterans through a range of dedicated programs and services. Through our We Honor Veterans partnership and other tailored resources, we recognize each veteran’s service and provide care that respects their unique needs. Our teams offer specialized support, meaningful recognition, and community education to ensure veterans and their families receive the understanding and compassion they deserve. Explore the many ways Gilchrist is making a difference.
Vet-to-Vet
Task Force
This volunteer program pairs veteran hospice patients with volunteers who have also served in the military. These visits provide comfort, connection, and a unique understanding that comes from shared experience. The camaraderie between veterans fosters meaningful moments of trust, support, and recognition.
Vet-to-Vet Cafés extend this mission by offering outreach to our veteran hospice population, including active-duty personnel. Nothing compares to the intrinsic bond and trust of someone who truly understands the military experience.
Veterans History Project
Through this program, veteran volunteers help record and preserve the personal stories of our veteran hospice patients. These interviews capture memories of service and ensure their legacies live on. It’s a meaningful way to honor each veteran’s unique journey and safeguard their history for future generations.
The Veterans History Project enables veteran volunteers to partner with students to interview our veteran patients about their military service. The completed written or recorded interviews are then submitted to the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.
Operation Gratitude
Veteran volunteers visit local elementary, middle, and high schools to read to students and share stories of their military service. In return, students create heartfelt cards of gratitude, which are later presented to veterans during Gilchrist tributes.
Through Operation Gratitude, veteran volunteers connect with students, fostering appreciation and understanding of service to our country. The children’s cards become a meaningful way to honor and thank our veterans.
Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Celebration
Each year, Gilchrist hosts a Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Celebration to honor the courage and sacrifice of those who served. Held in conjunction with Maryland’s Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day, this event reflects our deep commitment to recognizing Vietnam veterans’ unique experiences. Attendees can access resources, share a meal, and reconnect with fellow service members. It is a meaningful gathering that celebrates their stories, resilience, and service.
We Need More Thank You Cards For Our Veterans
We can always use more cards to share with veterans during our Salute to Service Tributes. If your classroom, scout troop, or community group would like to create cards thanking veterans for their service and sacrifice, we would be grateful for your support. Hand-made or store-bought cards are welcome—please just keep messages focused on appreciation rather than wishes for recovery.
Cards can be mailed to:
Gilchrist
Attn: We Honor Veterans program
11311 McCormick Rd, Ste. 350
Hunt Valley, MD 21031
We Honor Veterans Newsletter
Gilchrist is dedicated to honoring those who have served our country in the military. We publish an e-newsletter for military veterans and their families focusing on the veterans under our care.
Support our We Honor Veterans Program
Supporting our We Honor Veterans program is a meaningful way to give back to those who served our country. Veterans are encouraged to volunteer, offering companionship and understanding that only shared experience can provide. Donations to Gilchrist also help sustain and expand these services, ensuring we can continue providing comprehensive care and recognition to veterans and their families. Whether through volunteering or giving, your support makes a lasting difference in the lives of those who have served.
Learn More About Our We Honor Veterans Program
