On September 22, Hospice & Community Care held the dedication ceremony for our Veteran Garden. Thank you to all everyone who attended and helped make the day special.
The Hospice & Community Care Veteran Garden, the culmination of years of planning, offers Veterans and their families a place to recognize and honor the sacrifice and service Veterans have made for our country.
A huge thank-you goes to Col. Michael “Troy” Gerock, our guest speaker, and to our Ceremony Emcee, Manning Kimmel, for their moving remarks. Thank you to Ralph Norman, U.S. Representative 5th District of South Carolina for presenting the United States of America Flag. Our sincere appreciation is extended to South Carolina Lt. Governor Keven L. Bryant for presenting the South Carolina Flag. Thanks also to the many state and local officials in attendance.
Thank you to John Wentling, Chaplain, Olde English Leathernecks Detachment #1123 Marine Corps League, for leading us in prayer. Thank you to Dr. Justin Isenhour, Director, and the Winthrop University Trombone Choir for the elegant rendition of the “Star Spangled Banner” as well as the medley of U.S. Armed Service Songs. Thanks, too, for Harvey Mayhill and the Patriotic Ladies of Rock Hill, Annette Marlow and Kristine Nelson, who led the assembly in “God Bless America.”
Our sincere appreciation for Al Guest and Rolling Thunder Chapter 1 for their presentation and display of the POW/MIA flag. Our gratitude is extended to our exceptional JROTC members. To Dexter Davis, MSgt, USAF(ret) and the South Pointe JROTC for providing a color guard and raising the American and South Carolina Flags. To Sgt. Maj. John Logan and the Nation Ford JROTC for their attendance and raising the Army and Marine Corp. Service Flags. To Chief Johnny W. Neal and the Northwestern JROTC for their attendance and raising the Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard Service Flags.
Our thanks also to Dave McKenzie for his superb performance on bagpipes as well as TSgt. Stephen Goshorn VTANG(Retired), member Buglers Across America, for his poignant rendition of taps.
Thank you to Dave Shiple, Hospice & Community Care Veteran Volunteer, for leading the pinning ceremony. A special thank you to Greene Funeral Home for providing seating and to the Huntington Farm Flag Guys for the flag display. We are grateful to the Hospice & Community Care volunteers and staff for their cooperation and help with the program.
Last but not least, our thanks to our ribbon cutting delegation: Tom Bates, Hospice & Community Care Volunteer; Gary Cowley, Captain, American Legion Post 34 Honor Guard; Keven L. Bryant, Lt. Governor of South Carolina; Col. Michael “Troy” Gerock, NCANG 145th AW/CC; Ralph Norman, U.S. Representative 5thDistrict; Ann Williamson, Rock Hill Mayor Pro Tempore; and Kathy Patrick Wilson, Chair, Hospice & Community Care Board of Directors.
Thanks to all those who helped make this Veteran Garden Dedication ceremony such a success.
