Salute: V4L delivers items to Hospice for veterans
Dennis Cave (left), founder and president of Veterans 4 Life presented Lonnie Crotts with a military coin during a visit to Hospice. Crotts is a veteran volunteer with the nonprofit. {Contributed photo}
Two local organizations are collaborating to ensure our country’s soldiers are honored for their sacrifice, bravery and courage even as they face the reality of mortality: Veterans 4 Life (V4L), founded by US Army veteran, Dennis Cave, and Hospice of Davidson County. Cave contacted the organization in hopes of recognizing his fellow vets when they are under palliative care.
The Davidson County resident along with other members of V4L visited the Hospice campus recently to deliver military coins, pens and bracelets to staff. They’ll be distributed to those who have served this country.
“Hospice gratefully acknowledges our Veterans through various mediums of expression of appreciation and recognition, noted Windy Hedrick, co-chair of the We Honor Veterans (WHV) committee. “We recognize our Veterans throughout the year with certificates and other patriotic gifts from the agency recognizing a veterans specific branch of service, as well as items donated from volunteers and the community.”
WHV is a collaborative partnership between the National Hospice & Palliative Care Organization, the Veterans Administration, local hospices and other community partners. Hospice of Davidson County became a WHV partner in July 2014. Hospice and WHV’s mission are to: Deliver stellar veteran-centric care with every veteran encounter.
The partnership between the two local entities began when Cave reached out to the nonprofit regarding an event he held last month to begin establishing a veteran network.
“Dennis reached out to Hospice of Davidson County and invited agency staff to attend a round table discussion to examine the needs of veterans in our county and how we can work together to best meet those needs and gain resources from one another,“ said Hedrick
From left to right: Dennis Cave, Derrick Barcombe, V4L’s 2nd vice commander and Lonnie Crotts and are pictured at Hospice of Davidson County. {Contributed photo}
Hospice acknowledges their involvement with WVH is an extension of the care they believe veterans have earned through their service.
“We recognize the veteran women and men who served our country sometimes have unique needs at end of life such as unresolved grief, spiritual concerns, coping with ordered acts they may have carried out in service to their country, and PTSD, to name just a few,” Hedrick stated. “It is our duty to be knowledgeable and equipped professionals to meet those needs with the best care available. The hospice philosophy of care is what makes hospice different. We use a holistic approach to care. Hospice recognizes the needs of the whole person, beyond the immediate and long-term medical needs, to include psychosocial, emotional and spiritual needs. As one nears the end of life, this is a time of reflection, there is often much to process, work through, and reconcile to hopefully reach a place of peace and acceptance. Our care teams are honored to be invited into this sacred time and space to come alongside them and their families and support them through their journey.”
Currently, Hospice is seeking veterans who are interested in volunteering and assisting service members with their end of life journey. Going forward the organizations hopes to continue learning about V4L as well as partner with other community partners “to better meet the needs of the Veterans and their families in our community.”
For more information about veteran resources, click here. Hospice also has a podcast available with their local Veteran Service Officer Ricky Johnson: https://hospiceofdavidson.org/veteran-resources/.
