By Rick Banas of assisted living provider BMA Management, Ltd.
As Veterans Day 2012 nears, I am reminded of two people that I met on Veterans Day last year. Both served our country in World War II and were living at the Heritage Woods affordable assisted living community that BMA manages in Moline, Illinois.
Lee Trainor talked with me about where he was when he heard the news about the Bombing of Pearl Harbor and his experience in the war.
He was living in Kansas City and had gone to Hutchinson, Kansas, for a visit. Hutchinson is located on the Arkansas River, nearly 40 miles northwest of Wichita. There was a radio playing on a small table in the lobby of the hotel where he was staying. It stopped playing so he went over to see what was wrong and heard the announcement.
Two weeks later, Lee went into the service of our country at the age of 18. He was in the second wave of Marines to land on Iwo Jima in the battle with the Japanese for this strategic stronghold in 1945. He watched from within a few hundred yards as Marines raised the U.S. flag on Mount Suribachi.
He spent nearly six weeks in combat on the island but said he does not remember a single thing from about the third day until the last day of combat. About 4 a.m. that morning, a live mortar landed just two feet away from where he was standing. He reasons that the mortar did not explode because the volcanic soil he was standing in was so soft.
Following his discharge from the service, Lee went to the University of Missouri in Columbia and on to enjoy a career in newspapers and advertising. While working for the Rocky Mountain News in Denver, he had the opportunity to cover President Eisenhower at a ranch up in the high country.
Fred Collins was working as a machinist at the Arsenal in Rock Island when Pearl Harbor was attacked. He served as a Fighting Seabee in the South Pacific. He was part of the Battle of Okinawa, which was the largest amphibious invasion of the Pacific campaign and the bloodiest battle in the Pacific War. Reportedly, more people lost their lives in the Battle of Okinawa than in the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Fred talked about serving in a fox hole during the battle, with bullets flying and Kamikaze aircraft and mortar shells dropping from the sky. His buddy serving next to him in the fox hole was killed. Fred was awarded a Bronze Star for his service.
All of us at BMA Management and at the senior living, assisted living, supportive living and memory care communities that we manage salute our Veterans.
Here is a listing of some of the activities being hosted by BMA communities to honor our Veterans:
Veterans Breakfast & Flag Ceremony
8 a.m. to 9 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 12
At Heritage Woods of Centralia
Centralia, Illinois
Veterans Day Celebration
With the music of Rick Pickren
3 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 12
At Heritage Woods of McHenry
McHenry, Illinois
Heritage Woods of Dwight is providing the opportunity for you to honor individuals who have served our country in the military in a special way. The community is selling luminaries for its Patriotic Luminary Display at a cost of $3 each, with proceeds benefiting the effort to update and beautify the Veterans of Foreign War Memorial in Dwight. You can put the name of the person you would like to honor on the luminary. They community is selling the luminaries between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. through Friday, Nov. 9. For more information, call 815-584-9280 or visit online.
What are your thoughts? Leave a comment and let us know.
“BMA Management is the leading provider of affordable assisted living in Illinois and one of the 20 largest providers of assisted living in the United States.”
By Margaret Seggebruch of Prairie Winds of Urbana
Thanksgiving is a time for memories of times past. The residents of the Prairie Winds of Urbana affordable assisted living community wanted to share their Thanksgiving memories with you.
Bill White was only twelve years old when he killed the Thanksgiving turkey with an axe at his grandparents. Asked if it was the best tasting turkey he ever tasted, he stated “every year, the turkey is the best I ever tasted”.
Pat Crawford shared that she and her husband cooked Thanksgiving together and served around 30 family members. The children sat at their table and the adults sat at another. The older kids were responsible to watch over the little ones. She would always serve oyster dressing, and her husband and dad would have a contest to see who could eat the most raw oysters.
Orlin Highland stated that his family always had chicken for Thanksgiving because they couldn’t afford a turkey.
Gale Heiser’s family had capon for their Thanksgiving dinner. The tradition was started when he was young and continues today.
Joan Albers shared that when outdoor grills became popular, her husband would always do the turkey on the grill. She always had to make corn pudding, pumpkin and pecan pie. When her daughter married, she had to add cherry pie to the menu for her son-in-law.
Most residents stated that when they were young they had Thanksgiving dinner at their grandparent’s house and that their grandparents had raised the turkey on the farm. Thanksgiving back then was a time for families to get together and not a day to watch football and plan your Black Friday shopping trip.
Prairie Winds of Urbana is an affordable assisted living community managed by BMA Management, Ltd. The community is located in Urbana, Illinois, and houses 99 studio and one-bedroom apartments for adults 65+ of all incomes.
What are your thoughts? Leave a comment and let us know.
“BMA Management is the leading provider of affordable assisted living in Illinois and one of the 20 largest providers of assisted living in the United States.”
Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2011 will be a day that four residents of the Prairie Winds affordable assisted living community that BMA manages in Urbana, Illinois, will never forget.
The four residents are Jim Hall, Ralph Stewart, Bob Whitson and Jim Williford.
Jim Hall
Jim, who has lived at Prairie Winds for more than four years, served in the U.S. Army. He was an artillery mechanic during the Invasions of Normandy, Brittany and the Argon Forest and in the Battle of the Bulge. He also served in the Army Occupation of Germany. He was awarded a Silver and five Bronze Stars for his service.
Ralph Stewart
Ralph, who also has lived at Prairie Winds for more than four years, served in the U.S. Navy. He served in the Invasion of Normandy as well as in the Philippines and Borneo. Ralph was on one of the landing crafts that went into Normandy. He was stranded on the beach for more than a week before being evacuated to England.
Bob Whitson
Bob, who has lived at Prairie Winds for more than three years, also served in the U.S. Navy and also was part of the Invasion of Normandy. He was on the U.S.S. Herndon. He later was involved in the Invasion of Sicily as a torpedo man first class.
Jim Williford
Jim, who moved into Prairie Winds a little over six months ago, served in the U.S. Navy Air Corp. He served on the East Coast of the United States as a radio gunman on torpedo watch.
Lindsay Miller, who has been a CNA at Prairie Winds since the community opened for occupancy in 2007, volunteered her time to serve as the person who accompanied Ralph on the trip.
Thanks to the Honor Flight Network, the Illini Radio Group, and numerous individuals who volunteered their time, the Veterans were truly given the “Red Carpet” treatment.
The Honor Flight Network is a non-profit organization that provides the free flights for Veterans with help from organizations that raise money for the flights. The Illini Radio Group raised the funds necessary for the Oct. 18 flight in two weeks time.
With those going on the flight needing to be at the airport by 5 a.m., Larry the Flagman had come out the day before and lined both sides of the road leading into Willard Airport in Savoy with more than 700 U.S. Flags. “Without our Veterans, I couldn’t put up the flag,” said Larry, who lives in Little York, Illinois.
Upon arriving at the airport for the flight out to D.C., each of the 75 Veterans were given an orange Honor Flight shirt and a blue Honor Flight fleece so they could be decked out in University of Illinois (UofI) colors.
I had the chance to talk with the four residents of Prairie Winds who were going on the flight before they boarded the plane.
They returned to a reception that they so richly deserve.
Fire trucks, with lights flashing. Several World War II era military planes and vehicles on display. The University of Illinois Marching Band, flags and cheerleaders.
Each Veteran was escorted off the plane by military personnel. They walked under a large U.S. Flag that was waving in the wind and down a Red Carpet that was lined by more than a thousand people, who cheered and expressed their thanks. Many held signs expressing their appreciation.
In the background, the Marching Band played the Songs of the Navy, Army, Air Force and Marines.
A little earlier in the evening as a group of us from Prairie Winds were waiting for the plane to arrive, one of the clarinet players in the band came by and introduced herself. She talked about how proud she was to be there. Her husband was in the military and stationed in the Far East.
As we celebrate Veterans Day 11-11-11, we salute each and every man and woman who has served in our Armed Forces. It is because of them that we are able to enjoy our freedoms.
Below are just a few videos taken at the return arrival of the Veterans to the UofI Willard Airport in Champain, Illinois after visiting the Memorials in Washing DC.
The slide show below is of Jim H, Ralph, Bob & Jim W trip and return.
What are your thoughts? Leave a comment and let us know.
“BMA Management is the leading provider of affordable assisted living in Illinois and one of the 20 largest providers of assisted living in the United States.”
Many of the Senior Living and Assisted Living communities managed by BMA Management will be honoring our Veterans with special programs on Veterans Day.
We invite Veterans of our Armed Services to join us tomorrow, November 11, 2011 for these events:
Cambridge House of Maryville Affordable Assisted Living Maryville, Illinois · cambridgehouse-maryville-slf.com
Veterans Appreciation Breakfast – 7:00-9:00 a.m.
Veterans Day Program – 2:00 p.m.
Grand Prairie of Macomb Affordable Assisted Living Macomb, Illinois · grandprairieassistedliving.com
Veterans Day Program – 10:00 a.m.
Heritage Woods of Benton Affordable Assisted Living Benton, Illinois · hw-benton-slf.com
Veterans “Biscuits & Gravy” Breakfast – 7:00-9:00 a.m.
Heritage Woods of Centralia Affordable Assisted Living, Senior Living Apartments
& Rental Homes for Older Adults Centralia, Illinois · hw-centralia-slf.com
Veterans Breakfast & Flag Folding – 7:00-9:00 a.m.
Heritage Woods of DeKalb Affordable Assisted Living DeKalb, Illinois · hw-dekalb-slf.com
Veterans Breakfast – 7:00-9:00 a.m.
Heritage Woods of Dwight Affordable Assisted Living Dwight, Illinois · hw-dwight-slf.com
Veterans Day Luminary Display – Dusk to 9:00 p.m.
Heritage Woods of Flora Affordable Assisted Living Flora, Illinois · hw-flora-slf.com
Veterans “Pancakes & Sausage” Breakfast – 7:00-8:30 a.m.
Heritage Woods of Huntley Assisted Living Huntley, Illinois · hw-huntley-alf.com
Veterans Day Program – 1:30 p.m.
Featuring long-time Huntley Resident Al Jordi,
talking about his recent Honor Flight experience
Heritage Woods of Manteno Affordable Assisted Living Manteno, Illinois · hw-manteno-slf.com
Veterans Day “Biscuits & Gravy” Breakfast – 7:00-9:00 a.m.
Patriotic Music – 2:00 p.m.
Heritage Woods of Moline Affordable Assisted Living Moline, Illinois · hw-moline-slf.com
Veterans Day Breakfast Buffet – 7:00-9:00 a.m.
Heritage Woods of Watseka Affordable Assisted Living Watseka, Illinois · hw-watseka-slf.com
Veterans “Pancakes & Sausage” Breakfast – 7:00-9:00 a.m.
Prairie Winds of Urbana Affordable Assisted Living &
Rental Homes for Older Adults Urbana, Illinois · prairiewinds-slf.com
Veterans Day Program – 10:00 a.m.
To find a community near you and to see an Illinois map with all of our communities, click here.
What are your thoughts? Leave a comment and let us know.
“BMA Management is the leading provider of affordable assisted living in Illinois and one of the 20 largest providers of assisted living in the United States.”
As part of the Veterans Day program at Prairie Winds of Urbana a couple of years ago, resident Jim Hall participated in a Flag Folding Ceremony that showed how and Why the Flag of the United States of America is Folded 13 Times for a Veteran.
As Veterans Day 2011 nears, we are proud to post this video of the Flag Folding Ceremony. You can see how the flag is folded and hear the significance of each of the 13 folds.
Jim served in the U.S. Army during World War II; he was awarded five Bronze and one Silver Star.
He has been a resident of the Prairie Winds affordable assisted living community that BMA manages in Urbana, Illinois, for more than four years. A wall of his apartment at Prairie Winds is decorated in tribute to his service.
Jim and three other veterans who live at Prairie Winds were among 75 veterans who had the opportunity to go an Honor Flight to visit Washington, D.C, in October. We will be posting a Blog about the Honor Flight on Veterans Day.
For information on the United States Flag, it’s Laws & Regulations, click here.
We thank all those who have served our country in the military.
What are your thoughts? Leave a comment and let us know.
“BMA Management is the leading provider of affordable assisted living in Illinois and one of the 20 largest providers of assisted living in the United States.”
Fred Collins was working as a machinist at the Arsenal in Rock Island when Pearl Harbor was attacked. He served as a Fighting Seabee in the South Pacific. He was part of the Battle of Okinawa, which was the largest amphibious invasion of the Pacific campaign and the bloodiest battle in the Pacific War. Reportedly, more people lost their lives in the Battle of Okinawa than in the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. 
Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2011 will be a day that four residents of the 
Cambridge House of Maryville
Grand Prairie of Macomb
Heritage Woods of Benton
Heritage Woods of Centralia
Heritage Woods of DeKalb
Heritage Woods of Dwight
Heritage Woods of Flora
Heritage Woods of Huntley
Heritage Woods of Manteno
Heritage Woods of Moline
Heritage Woods of Watseka
Prairie Winds of Urbana
