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Arcadia Villas at Lincoln
recognizes its resident veterans
[November 13, 2025]
At mid-day on Tuesday, November
11th, the Arcadia Villas at Lincoln celebrated Veterans Day with a
special recognition of resident veterans.
Resident veterans and their guests were invited to a luncheon in the
GracePoint dining room where a pinning ceremony took place prior to
lunch.
The event was hosted by Villas Director Amy Agee, Kylee Fricke of
Home Instead, Cloie Widell of Transitions Hospice and Pastor Nick
Butcher with Transitions Hospice.
The day began with Widell welcoming
guests and telling them that she too is a veteran. She said her
career began by being told that she was too small to be in the
military. However, that did not stop her from trying, and she
succeeded and even ended up being a truck driver, hauling hundreds
of gallons of fuel throughout the state of Illinois for the National
Guard.
She spoke about loving, honoring
and showing respect for all veterans and also drew attention to the
MIA/POW table that was set at the entrance of the dining room.
Ashe read excerpts from the MIA POW
Memorial website:
The table is set for one. The chair is empty – they are not here.
The cloth is white, symbolizing the purity of their intentions to
respond to their country’s call to arms.
The black napkin represents the sorrow for those still missing.
The single red rose in a vase reminds us of the lives of these
Americans and their loved ones and friends who keep the faith while
seeking answers.
The yellow ribbon around the vase symbolizes our continued
uncertainty, our hope for their return, and a demand for proper
accounting of those who are not among us today.
A slice of lemon on the plate reminds us of their bitter fate,
captured or missing in a foreign land while serving our country.
Grains of salt on the plate remind us of the countless fallen tears
of families who continue to long for answers.
An inverted glass symbolizes their inability to share a toast.
The white candle reflects hope that our missing will return some
day.
Pastor Butcher was called upon to deliver the invocation.
Before lunch was served, each of the veterans present was recognized
with a certificate of appreciation and an American Flag lapel pin.
Those recognized were:
Jim Miller – Air
Force
Don Tangman – Army
Wayne Leesman – Army
Mark Fay – Navy
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C. Wayne Schrader –
Army
Kenneth French –
World War II
Major Jim Thomas
–Marine Corps
Major Thomas was also recognized for having served his country 25
years.
Recognition was also given to the
late Bill Birdsell and accepted by his widow.
Other resident veterans unable to
attend the event included:
Lee Woods – Army
Donald Ahern – Army
Don Meints – Coast Guard
John Hart
Bill Marcott - International Guard
Veterans not in residence that were
recognized included Bill Dennis and Larry Conchran who were in
attendance to support the veterans.
Dennis arrived just as the event
was starting with a large box of gifts for the veterans that
included sweet treats baked by Laura Slayton.
Marsha Fernandes was also on hand,
representing Eminence Church. She said that special pins had been
given to all the veterans who attended the annual Veteran Breakfast
earlier this month at the church. She had some pins remaining and
wanted to gift each of the resident veterans with a pin.
When the presentations were finished, each guest was served a meal
complete with dessert and had the opportunity to relax and enjoy a
day that was dedicated specifically to them.
[Nila Smith]
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