Local veterans of the United States armed forces were given an afternoon of appreciation during a pinning ceremony held at Crestwood Nursing Home in Warren on Flag Day, Friday, June 14.

The event was organized by Brandon Meuse and Marie Boutin of Gentiva Hospice Care, based out of Warwick. Meuse, himself a veteran, said in an interview on Tuesday morning that he organizes similar events at nursing homes throughout the region as part of the hospice’s participation in the “We Honor Veterans” program, a national volunteer effort from the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to recognize veterans living in assisted living facilities and hospices reaching the end of their life.

“I am a veteran I see this as a huge opportunity to give back a little something to our older veterans that have given so much,” said Meuse. “As a hospice care consultant, I look for opportunities to care for people in the demographics of maybe needing our service. I was introduced to hospice when my step father passed of brain cancer and saw it for the first time how this care model is needed and helps in so many ways…We at Gentiva care for our veterans I make sure of that because of my own veteran status. And giving them the honors of being thanked personally is special. Everyone feels the love and goodness.”