A new Veterans Wall honoring twelve service members will be unveiled this Saturday, Sept. 24 at the Genesis Mercerville Center in Hamilton.
HAMILTON -- A new Veterans Wall honoring twelve service members will be unveiled this Saturday, Sept. 24 at the Genesis Mercerville Center in Hamilton.
Residents of the center as well as several staff members will be celebrated in a ceremony that will raise awareness of the contribution each Vet made in service to the country.
"This is our gift to future generations," said Mike Lopatine, center executive director of Mercerville Center.
The Mercerville Center, a skilled nursing facility, is a part of Genesis HealthCare Network, and Lopatine said the company encourages the recognition of veterans in every facility.
"For some of our veterans, their service has not addressed or celebrated for quite some time," he said. "A dedicated wall is very meaningful to our veterans."
The wall will honor each veteran with recognition of each branch served in the armed services, he explained. Each veteran and their family members--four of which are World War II veterans - will receive a recognition pin.
The event will be capped off with a barbecue and musical entertainment in the facility's dining hall.
The wall--he said--is currently draped in an American Flag, and will be unveiled at the 11 a.m. Saturday morning service.
"Every veteran will have a plate with their name, branch of service and years they served," he said.
The ROTC from the College of New Jersey will also be on hand for the dedication, said social services director Pamela Saitta.
"It's nice the young are coming to honor and respect those that came and paved the way for them," she said.
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