In a retirement village in Washington there is a galaxy with three walls.
Taped to each one is a photo of a friend or family member who served in the military, many of whom live in the retirement village themselves. The project honors those who have served but were never publicly recognized.
Betty Dobbins, 81, lives at the Villas of Holly Brook in Washington. She is a former teacher and has many former students who are veterans. She started the project last November to commemorate Veterans Day and add some color to the space.
“The residents here, every day someone stops and looks at another person,” Dobbins said. “They read them and are interested in them and ask questions.”
Her idea quickly gained traction when residents and staff at Holly Brook began posting photos and information about their own loved ones on the wall. Since last November, more former veterans have moved into the retirement home, prompting Dobbins to submit their names as well.
“They definitely want to be involved, they definitely want some recognition for their service to our country,” she said.
How the wall of honor came into being
To create the wall, Dobbins interviewed veterans and residents with loved ones about where they served, when they served, what industry they were in and what kind of work they did. She then cuts out paper stars and adds a photo of each veteran along with information about their contribution.
Sue Sepich, activities director at Holly Brook, said Dobbins has filled the walls with patriotic decorations fueled by her creative flair and dedication.
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“The teacher comes out of her,” she said. “It’s all red, white and blue and there are a lot of different things on all the stars.”
For Dobbins, the importance of remembering those who served in the military is personal. A distant relative served in the Revolutionary War, and Dobbins’ own husband was one of four boys, all of whom were drafted. He served in the National Guard for seven years.
Dobbins remembers hearing stories of the horrors and sacrifices of the military through her husband’s uncle, who was sent to the Dachau concentration camps in Germany during his service. She said knowing what her family members and fellow Holly Brook residents had experienced inspired her to give back.
“They went in and there were still bodies in the gardens,” she said. “He didn’t really want to talk about it much, but you know, you get a sense of what people went through during the wars.”
Wall of honor part of the celebration of Veterans Day
The wall of honor is the latest addition to Holly Brooks’ annual Veterans Day celebration, where residents gather each year to sing songs, enjoy live piano music and give veteran residents gifts. This year, Sepich said, a group of children from a local Sunday school have made cards to give, and representatives from the American Legion will perform a flag-folding ceremony.
“I think here at the Villas, because our veterans are with us all the time, we understand the importance,” Sepich said. “The majority of people who live here understand it because they lived it.”
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Sepich has her own connection to the military: Her father served on Bikini Atoll, where the United States detonated 23 nuclear weapons between 1946 and 1958. Sepich said her father was told he was not in the radiation line, but later died of pneumonia. cancer caused by the nuclear fallout.
“All of our veterans are very special to us, whether they are family or friends,” Sepich said. “But we also know that they all gave in their own special way. They made sacrifices, whatever they did.”
Sepich said she hopes the wall of honor will help residents feel valued and help young people in the community understand the value of the work veterans have done. “Anything we can bring to the forefront and commemorate these people who fought so bravely for us to be able to do everything that we do in our lives.”
The Wall of Honor, located at 1285 Independence Court, is open to the public and will remain in place year-round for visitors to view and contribute.
This article originally appeared in Journal Star: Washington, Illinois, Veterans Retirement Village Wall of Honor: Paper Stars, Photos
