News

Team Dover honors Delaware Veterans

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Zachary Cacicia
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
Milford, Del. --  It is not every day that Team Dover Airmen have an opportunity to interact and pay tribute to Delaware's military veterans.

Members of the Dover Air Force Base Top 3 organization lent their support in recognizing Delaware Veterans Home (DVH) residents who have called the facility their home for five-plus years Feb. 19, 2014, at the Delaware Veterans Home in Milford, Del.

The president of the DAFB Top 3 organization Master Sgt. Robert McGriffin, 9th Airlift Squadron loadmaster, along with Top 3 members: Master Sgt. Dallas Powers, 736th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron C-17 section chief, and Master Sgt. Benjamin Fay, 9th Airlift Squadron loadmaster, made their way to the DVH to honor 22 residents. The DAFB Top 3 is an organization comprised of Senior Non-Commissioned Officers.

"The [Top 3] organization is always looking for meaningful ways to get involved with the community," said McGriffin. "We can't think of a better venue to come down to help and share our time with the veterans."

The Delaware Veterans Home is a long-term care facility located in Milford, Del. It was established in 2007 and offers skilled nursing care with more than 150 beds. The home provides a broad continuum of healthcare and social services to Delaware veterans who are disabled, chronically ill, or in need of specialty care. The DVH's staff have an ongoing goal to help veterans restore or maintain the highest degree of function and enjoy the best possible quality of life.

The home's residents are veterans who have been honorably discharged from active service (peacetime or wartime) from any branch of the U.S. armed forces, any National Guard Service, or Reservist who is eligible for retirement pay at age 60. They must also have resided in the State of Delaware for three years or more leading up to their residence at the home.

Lawryn Phillips, DVH activity aid, said that the whole idea for the event actually came from one of the residents. They have a similar recognition of staff members who have worked at the home for five-plus years.

"It is only right that we recognize the residents as well," said Phillips. "It's such a fantastic thing for a resident to be here for five years or longer."

The five-year recognition event started off with a song sung by Phillips, then moved into a brief "History of the Delaware Veterans Home," given by Bill Peterson, DVH administrator. The present members of the Top 3 organization then went on to honor the 22 eligible residents with five-year pins. After this, several of the staff members went on to discuss their favorite memories about each individual resident honored. The event ended with another song sung by Phillips, and a celebratory cake.

One of the residents who was honored, Otis Mason, a veteran of U.S. Marine Corps and a retired U.S. Air Force Master Sergeant, spoke on his feelings toward receiving this recognition.

"I have no problem with it; not a problem at all," said Mason. "It is a very good gesture for the staff to do this for us."

The DVH staff hopes that this will become an annual event.

"These guys paved the way for us, they are our heritage, even our extended families," said McGriffin. "I can't think of a better way to spend our time and to give back to them."