Sometimes you learn about peace from those trained for war.

That’s the basis of a veterans program at Lehigh Valley Health Network, detailed by Beth Lutz,

Lutz, LVH - Pocono and LVH - Dickson City Volunteer Coordinator, discussed VNA hospice nurse practitioner Deborah Grassman.

“She learned from veterans,” Lutz said during the West End Legion Post 927 Memorial Day service. “She once said 10,000 dying veterans taught her a lesson. They taught her that the process of attending personal peace. It was ironic how she learned peace from people who were trained for war.”

Lutz, filling in for state Rep. Rosemary Brown, who was unable to make the ceremony, is a member of the post auxiliary. “I come from a long line and have family members that stand back generations of veterans.” The LVHN hospice program cares for veterans.

“And it is simply not just for any volunteer that comes into our program. It takes time to honor veterans that are in hospice, whether they come to the VNA hospice house in East Stroudsburg or home hospice, and it is veteran volunteers that visit our veteran patients.” Lutz said. “You go through an extensive training to how to handle veterans as they pass. And it’s truly it’s truly an honor to watch it and be a part of it.”

“Through our hospice program, we take the time to memorialize and honor our veterans with this program,” Lutz said. “No veteran dies alone, which gives us the honor and privilege to memorialize and pay tribute to these veterans.”

Veteran volunteers visit the veterans either in homes or at VNA hospice. They do a pinning ceremony and give them a certificate.

“And as most of you may think that this is a very humble gesture, we honor them with a final salute before their passing,” Lutz said. “This is most times followed within days or weeks, obviously with their service burial. Many of our frame, veteran volunteers actually attend the service of the veteran that they have just done this for.”

Volunteers honor them with a walk as they leave the hospice facility.

“I tell you about this program because I feel that veterans shouldn’t just be recognized on Veterans Day and at Memorial Day,” Lutz said. “I love this program because it takes time to do both of those things, to thank them for their service and to memorialize them while they’re still here on earth with us. It’s an honor and a gesture that brings them a final closing that most times are needed.”

The post opened its Memorial Day Ceremony with the opening bell and the Pledge of Alliance.

Chaplain Matt O’Rourke delivered the Invocation and Danny Insalata, post commander, welcomed the attendees.