Honoring our Veterans

I was 16 years old when my father first told me in great detail what it was like to be floating in the sea off the coast of Japan for 14 hours, holding up his injured co-pilot and fending off sharks until a rescue mission could arrive. His plane had lost two of its four engines and he and his fellow pilot had landed it with care on the water to avoid as many casualties as possible. The Navy awarded him a Purple Heart for his injuries and a number of other medals throughout World War II. Those medals and a lifelong back brace were all he had left of his service in the 1940s when he went to war for our country. He also told me about the bullets that came flying through the walls as he was shaving one beautiful Sunday morning in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, in December 1941. That day changed everything.

Men and women of my father's generation were very humble about their service to our county in World War II. They didn't much brag about it, nor even talk about it for that matter. But we know that when they come to the end of their lives, those war-torn days suddenly return to their memories and we, as hospice professionals, can help them relive that part of their lives. We can help keep them from suffering post-traumatic stress disorder all over again.

Many of you, your fathers and mothers, sisters and brothers, grandparents and cousins, have served our country in the military. For me, I still get all choked up when I see someone in a military uniform. My father was so handsome in his formal white jacket and pants. I still have his white hat. Those who serve our country every single day deserve our thanks for the sacrifices they make. They are working in challenging environments under a different set of rules. They are far from families and normal life. They are bright, disciplined and devoted to their country and their fellow soldiers.

Today on Veteran's Day, we honor those who serve now, those who served in the past and those who gave their lives so that we might be free. Thank you, Veterans.

Victoria A. Emmons
Chief Executive Officer
Hope Hospice

Welcome to a New Year

A New Year always brings new hope, new optimism and a fresh outlook on life. We dutifully make resolutions that we may forget by spring. We join a health club, plan a vacation, look for a new job or vow to spend more time with the kids. We look to the future, the unknown, the perils and joys of what may be; but we are hopeful. It is as it should be. Life should always be hopeful, no matter what stage of life we find ourselves. 

Hope Hospice welcomes you to the New Year and to our new blog. Enjoy reading our stories of hope. 

--- Victoria Emmons, CEO