DAV provides gifts to Pine Ridge veterans
Published 6:04 am Friday, December 23, 2016
“People you know, caring for people you love.”
The motto of Signature Health Care at Pine Ridge Care and Rehab doesn’t only span to workers inside the facility.
Pine Ridge received special guests Thursday morning as members with the Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary — Chapter 17 of Elizabethton stopped by to present gifts to veterans inside the facility. Veterans of Pine Ridge were given gift cards by the group to Wal-Mart.
The idea of stopping by came with ease, according to Chapter 17 member Nadine Graybeal, who was on hand for the event.
“We appreciate our veterans,” Graybeal said. “I told them they’ve given a lot for our freedom and we appreciate that. We just wanted to show them in a way that we appreciate what they have done for our country. We wanted to wish them a Merry Christmas and wanted to do something for them. We know a lot of other organizations do things for veterans, but wanted to something extra special this year.”
Pine Ridge Quality of Life Director Roberta Campbell added the DAV contacted her weeks ago to make this event a reality.
“Several weeks ago the DAV Auxiliary contacted our facility and wanted to do something special for our residents,” Campbell said. “They wanted to bring gifts to our residents so we got a list together. They came down here and our residents have been looking forward to this. Our residents are very caring and loving. They’re very patriotic so any time we have something involved with our veterans, they are the first ones there. They do the pledge to the flag. It’s just a great time.”
This event is nothing out of the ordinary, Campbell said, adding the group has been a regular supporter of the veterans at Pine Ridge.
“For several years, they’ve come by and brought gifts and donated things,” Campbell said. “But this year they called and wanted to personally bring the gifts to them. It made real to them about what they were doing because they were faced with the people they were doing this for. The DAV Auxiliary has been so kind and willing to work with our residents. I’m sure they’ll be back to spend even more time with them.”
With a well-known track record of success, Graybeal added she’s seen first hand the quality of work the facility puts in for their residents.
“Pine Ridge is such a good facility,” Graybeal said. “I have a classmate here that I come and visit. I also have a lady that lived in my community that lives here. We come to see her too. We also have a granddaughter that works as a CNA and she loves it here and loves these residents.”