Thurmont Senior Center Honors Veterans with “Veterans Day Open House”

Grace Eyler In the month of November, our nation’s Veterans are honored for their service and commitment to our country. In the town of Thurmont, the Senior Center goes above and beyond to make area Veterans feel welcomed and appreciated. On November 5, 2016, the Thurmont Senior Center celebrated its second annual “Veterans Day Open House.” Girl Scout Troup 81178 and their leader, Crystal, welcomed guests as they arrived, followed by the young girls leading the Pledge of Allegiance and Flag Ceremony. Families and friends then united to enjoy a luncheon served by volunteers from the Center. Opening remarks were given by the Center’s president, George Anzelone. Also in attendance were local VA Representative James Burger; Bill Buehrer from Stauffer’s Funeral Home; David Wingate, Attorney at Law; and Chuck Fisher, entertainer. Throughout the luncheon, Chuck reminisced about memories from his time in the military, as well as entertained the audience with classic hits. While one couple danced, others sung along to their favorite songs. Girl Scouts visited every table to personally thank the Veterans for their service.  Leo Club volunteers eagerly served the guests. Mr. Fisher announced raffle winners, who were thrilled to win local handmade items and merchants’ gift certificates, as well as freshly baked home goods and other items donated by the Thurmont Senior Center. Local Veterans organizations set up in the Center with informational displays and welcomed Veterans to ask questions about services. Ernie Unger, Claims Officer for the D.A.V., was available to answer questions and help with filling out benefit forms. Participating rganizations included the Thurmont AMVETS, American Legion; and the largest display couldn’t fit inside with the Center’s guests, thanks to the American Legion Riders, who parked  their gleaming motorcycles in the parking lot. Thurmont resident and retired Marine, J. R. Hamilton (seventy-four years old) displayed his extravagant collection of military memorabilia: awards from many Veterans organizations and snippets of his ten years of volunteer work with the Wounded Warriors Project. He recalled his time volunteering every week at Bethesda Naval Hospital as a Chaplain. When a solider would come out of ICU into recovery, he would speak with people who were visiting, to go over what they could and couldn’t do with the solider to insure his quickest recovery. Mr. Hamilton proudly displayed just a few of his sixty “Challenge Coins,” explaining how one acquires them, “You meet with that person, shake their hand, and exchange a challenge coin and talk with them.” The Thurmont Senior Center brought all elements of the community together, providing a wonderful experience to many of the areas Veterans. Everyone who attended enjoyed the day and will surely return for the third annual Veteran’s Day Open House in November of 2018. J.R. Hamilton sits alongside of his display, showcasing military awards, photo albums and other memorabilia during the Thurmont Senior Center Veteran’s Day Open House, held November 5.