Many of our residents are veterans. We wanted them to receive the celebration they deserve,” shared Lisa Haglund, Heritage President and CEO, as Heritage prepares to celebrate Veterans Day 2021 throughout their communities.

She explained that presently, there are many veterans who call Heritage their home. In late 2020, her teams at each of the Heritage senior living locations, nationwide, embarked on an ambitious new project—to record the military memories of as many Heritage residents as possible as a way to honor their legacy of service and preserve the past for future generations.

“Our veterans are a true national treasure. These amazing individuals have risked their lives to defend our freedom for decades and now we are caring for the greatest generations of all. We areworking harder than ever to protect our most vulnerable population, as we embrace the Heritage mission to promote Hope, Dignity, and Purposeful Living to those entrusted to our care. Part of that is the tremendous responsibility of sharing the amazing stories of our veterans and recognizing their service to our country. The ability to engage with our residents and share their memories so that we may all learn from their experiences is something that we are both blessed and honored to be able to do.”

As interviews are conducted, Heritage uploads them to their veteran living history webpage, which can be found at www.heritage1886.org/veterans. The page will continue to be updated as new interviews are added.

Heritage Ministries was founded as the Orphanage and Homes of the Free Methodist Church in 1886 and has grown from its original campus in Gerry, NY, to six locations in New York with additional affiliations in the states of Washington, Illinois, and Pennsylvania. As a not-for-profit provider of senior care and housing, Heritage is a leader in the industry, employing approximately 1,500 team members, and serving over 2,500 individuals annually. With locations in New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Washington, Heritage and its affiliates provide rehabilitation and skilled nursing services, independent retirement housing, memory care, and assisted living. For more information on Heritage Ministries, please visit www.heritage1886.org.