A Final Salute: Honoring Our Veterans Through Gilchrist Tributes
A Final Salute: Honoring Our Veterans Through Gilchrist Tributes
Gilchrist Salute to Service Tributes are ceremonies hosted by volunteer veterans, to honor seriously ill or dying veterans as a gesture of gratitude for their service to the country. These ceremonies are a meaningful way to acknowledge the sacrifices veterans have made and to express appreciation for their contributions to maintaining freedom. The tributes involve the collaboration of Gilchrist staff, volunteers, and the veteran’s family to create a personalized and respectful celebration, often including patriotic elements such as the National Anthem, Pledge of Allegiance, and military songs. Veterans are presented with tokens of appreciation like pins, certificates, and handmade items. One of these touching tributes was recently given to WWII Army Medic Robert Russell, celebrating his bravery with all the honors he deserves. Bob’s salute to service was more than a ceremony; it was a personal thank you note, making sure he was honored the way he deserves to be.
Robert “Bob” Russell, born on Easter Sunday in 1925 in Binghamton, New York, led a life marked by service, dedication, and love. After graduating from high school in 1943, he enlisted in the Army and served as a Med Tech in various European countries during World War II with the 254th General Hospital. Post-war, he continued his service at Camp Atterbury, Indiana, until his honorable discharge in 1949.
Returning to Binghamton, Bob’s work ethic at a local drugstore earned him sponsorship for his pharmacy education, leading to a lifelong career in pharmacology, including owning his own pharmacy and teaching at Broome Community College. His personal life blossomed when he met his future wife, Connie, leading to a marriage filled with community service, travel, and family joys with their two children. After retiring and losing his wife, Bob continued to give back to his community before moving to Maryland in 2001 to be near his daughter and her family, encapsulating a life well-lived through service, dedication, and love.
For 30 years, Gilchrist has been devoted to meeting the unique needs of our veterans and thanking them for their sacrifice and service to our country. Along with Salute to Service Tributes, like the one Bob received, Gilchrist also hosts an annual Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day Celebration to honor veterans and their families free of charge. This year’s event will be held on Sunday, April 7, 2024 at 11:30 AM, at Martin’s West in Baltimore County.
To learn more about supporting or volunteering for Gilchrist’s “We Honor Veteran’s program, contact Kimberlee McDonnell, at kmcdonnell@gilchristcare.org or 443.849.8337 or visit https://gilchristcares.org/events/welcome-home-celebration/