Vets to Volunteers: Veterans Continue Their Service with Gilchrist
At Gilchrist, Veterans Day is more than a date on the calendar—it is an opportunity to recognize the men and women who have served our country with courage and sacrifice. While Gilchrist conducts Salute to Service tributes year-round, this November our veteran volunteers are visiting 16 senior living communities across Maryland to lead special Veterans Day events. These gatherings, filled with music, prayer, and heartfelt recognition, allow us to express our gratitude to veterans for the freedoms their service has secured.
“Every day I am allowed to see veterans honored by fellow veterans,” says Kimberlee McDonnell, Gilchrist’s We Honor Veterans Coordinator. “These ceremonies often provide pride and peace to our patients and lasting memories for their families.”
This Veterans Day, Gilchrist is proud to recognize the volunteers who once wore the uniform and now dedicate their time to honoring those who served.
Bill Hill: Continuing a Legacy of Service
Service: U.S. Army, 1967–1972
For Bill Hill, volunteering with Gilchrist is an extension of his lifelong commitment to service. A Gilchrist volunteer for four years and past chairman of the Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day event, Bill sees volunteering as a way to continue giving back.
“To be a veteran and volunteer means someone who has served in the armed forces and now dedicates their time, skills, and experience to community service,” Bill explains. “This voluntary service enriches lives and strengthens communities.”
Ed Nolley: Honoring Veterans in Big and Small Ways
Service: Us Army and Maryland Army National Guard – 1969 -2001
Ed Nolley has been a Gilchrist volunteer for more than 10 years. In addition to serving on the We Honor Veterans team, Ed is a doula and chair of the Ambassador Team.
“Looking at my volunteer work at Gilchrist, nothing has been more rewarding than having the opportunity to honor our veteran patients,” Ed shares. “The pride shown by the veteran patient is unbelievable—never a dry eye.”
While Salute to Service ceremonies typically honor a single veteran, Ed notes that Veterans Day ceremonies may recognize up to 30–40 veterans, each receiving a certificate, pin, and salute. One of his favorite events is the annual Veterans Day ceremony at Keswick, which draws more than 100 attendees.
Virgil Wright Jr.: A Mission of Gratitude
Service: U.S. Marine Corps, 1964–1968
Virgil Wright Jr. has been a Gilchrist volunteer since 2018. For him, the mission is simple yet powerful: gratitude.
“It’s important that Gilchrist honor veterans with Salute to Service ceremonies to show gratitude and respect for their service and sacrifices while acknowledging the freedoms their service has helped protect,” Virgil says.
Rick Sullivan: Bringing Comfort at the End of Life
Service: U.S. Marine Corps, 1967–1970 (Vietnam 1969–1970)
After serving in the Marine Corps, including a year in Vietnam, Rick Sullivan joined the We Honor Veterans program in 2018. Each year, he and his fellow volunteers honor hundreds of veterans receiving hospice care.
“It is such a blessing to be able to honor these veterans at the end of life,” Rick explains. “I recently heard from the son of a WWII veteran we honored. He said, ‘What you and your comrades did by honoring my father will be a pleasant lifetime memory for me and my family.’ It feels so good to once again be serving.”
Art Grau: Healing Old Wounds Through Service
Service: U.S. Army Security Agency, 1965–1969
For Art Grau, serving with Gilchrist’s veteran volunteers has been life-changing. He attended Gilchrist’s first Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day Celebration in 2018 and soon became involved in the We Honor Veterans program.
“Leaving my buddies in Vietnam in 1969 left a gaping hole in my heart,” Art says. “Gilchrist has repaired that wound by giving me the privilege and honor of giving back to other veterans. I can’t imagine a greater purpose or fulfillment.”
This Veterans Day
As Gilchrist’s veteran volunteers travel to senior living communities across the region, they carry with them the gratitude of a nation and the compassion of hospice. Each certificate, each salute, and each song is a reminder that our veterans are never forgotten.
This Veterans Day, we honor not only those who served but also the volunteers and staff who ensure their service is recognized with dignity, respect, and love.
To learn more about Gilchrist’s We Honor Veterans program, visit: https://gilchristcares.org/services/hospice-care/specialized-hospice-programs/whv/