ELK GROVE, CA (MPG) - Veterans Day came early for those at WellQuest of Elk Grove, a senior living center in town. 

On Nov. 7, WellQuest hosted a Veterans Day ceremony honoring the 40 residents who served in one or more of the branches of the U.S. military. Among one of the veterans is Lester Holt Sr., the father of the well-known NBC anchor. 

Decorated with red, white and blue balloons, flowers and other American-themed memorabilia, WellQuest incorporated patriotism into the entire day. 

Before the ceremony began, Assemblymember Stephanie Nguyen of District 10 stopped by the facility to pay her respects to WellQuest’s veterans before another commitment at the Capitol. 

The ceremony began with the Pledge of Allegiance, led by Master Sgt. Jim Withers of the Air Force. The National Anthem was then sung by Jim Hall, a local musician. 

Next, District 5 County Supervisor Pat Hume spoke. 

“I hold a very dear place in my heart for all our veterans,” Hume said. “I appreciate all that you have done for our country. Liberty is not free.”

Elk Grove Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen added her own words of gratitude to the veterans, first thanking WellQuest for honoring their veterans, as “not every place does that.”

“Our city is blessed,” Allen said. “We have a community that always steps up to support our veterans. As an immigrant to this country, I hold America near and dear to my heart.” 

Following the mayor were three representatives from American River Health Care, who passed out certificates and pins to each of the veterans.

One of their representatives, Brian, spoke a few words before passing out the certificates. 

“From the beaches of Normandy to the mountains of Afghanistan, you faced challenges most of us can only imagine,” he said. “You’ve defended our freedoms, protected our values and shown us the true meaning of courage.”

Next, the WellQuest Living Singing Group, led by resident Benna Munger, performed a rendition of “God Bless America,” filling the room with patriotic voices.

Following the song was a poetry reading from one of the residents, Diane Baker, whose husband is Colonel Jay Baker of the Air Force. 

Baker gave a brief background behind the poem, saying she and Jay visited Vietnam after the war, where she was inspired to write the poem based on war prisoners’ experiences. 

One of Baker’s lines includes, “But deep inside, I still have hope and dream of the day when I, too, will be found and taken away/and fly to my family and friends, then touch the ground of my beloved USA.” 

WellQuest of Elk Grove Executive Director Elena Cuevas next spoke briefly about her role and how the veterans have impacted her. 

“It is my privilege and graceful honor to serve you every day,” Cuevas said to the veterans. 

The ceremony ended with Hall’s trumpet rendition of “Taps,” a military tune that is a call to remember fallen soldiers, often played at military funerals and memorial ceremonies. 

After the ceremony, WellQuest veterans led the attendees into a separate hallway, where the rededicated “Wall of Honor” was unveiled by Cuevas and several of the veterans, including 99-year-old Chief Boatswain Mate Cleveland Cushing of the Navy and Lt. Colonel John Hamilton of the Air Force. 

The Wall of Honor displays official photos of all the WellQuest veterans with their names, years served and the branch they were in. Proud family members and friends crowded around the wall, eager to snap photos of their loved ones.

Lastly, Pastor Dr. Roy M. Brown read scripture from John 15:13 and led the entire group in prayer in front of the Wall of Honor.

“America is safer and stronger because these men and women have worn the uniform,” Brown said. 

WellQuest Elk Grove offers independent living, assisted living and memory care for patients. 

The facility is located at 8871 E Stockton Blvd., Elk Grove. 

For more information about WellQuest Elk Grove, visit WellQuestEG.com, call 916-689-1000 or email at [email protected].