At Juniper Village, service to one's country is never forgotten. In late July, the Mount Joy retirement community honored 19 veterans with a pinning ceremony, thanking residents, community members and relatives of residents and staff for their patriotism.

"At Juniper, we value the sacrifice of the members of our community and those in the greater Lancaster community who have served to protect our country," said Katie Erb, Juniper connections director. "This was our first year putting on this event, and we hope to do it annually."

The ceremony was filled with emotion as each veteran's name was read aloud along with his or her branch of service. Veterans or the family members of deceased veterans were presented with a certificate and a gold pin, a symbol of gratitude for their courage and commitment.

The program was led by Douglas Konzelman and his team from AccentCare, a partner of Juniper Village. Music was orchestrated by Notes of Healing Music Therapy, also a partner of the retirement community, whose selections added to the dignity and warmth of the afternoon.

Among those honored were William Pockrus, who served three years in the U.S. Army; Major Jeffrey Johns, who gave 20 years of service to the Army; and Army veteran William Charles Reese Jr., whose wife, 100-year-old resident Nina Claire, received the pin in her late husband's honor. The couple was married in 1945, and family members noted that the ceremony brought back many treasured memories.

"I was there for the ceremony and took a video of Mom receiving the certificate and pin," said Carol Markley. "It was a lovely ceremony!"

The pinning ceremony not only honored the veterans and their service, but also provided a time of fellowship and connection.

"The event was very heartwarming," said Donna Shaffer, a community member who attended. "It brought tears to my eyes when I saw our veterans in their 90s being honored and seeing how much it meant to them. The music was awe inspiring. My peers were really enjoying the ice cream sundaes that were given out at the end too."

Juniper Village staff members said they hope the event will grow in future years, giving even more opportunities to recognize the men and women whose sacrifices continue to inspire both residents and the wider community.