Charles Case was honored last Wednesday morning by HCI Hospice Care Services and Ringgold County Veteran's Affairs.

Case was presented with the flag pin and a framed certificate from Denny Abel (sic, Adkisson) and Jake Dailey, Veteran-to-Veteran volunteers with HCI Hospice Care Services as well as an honor from the veteran's affairs office.

Case served in the US Navy as a boilerman third class from 1961-1964. He was responsible for making the steam to power the aircraft carrier USS Bennington. Case received the Vietnam Expeditionary Award and an Honorable Discharge from the Navy.

Case's service took him around the world, including Pearl Harbor, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Japan and Alaska.

Throughout the past year, HCI Hospice Care Services has honored 12 of its patients who are veterans for their service to the nation through ceremonies like Case's as part of its continued effort to ensure veterans receive specialized care at end-of-life.

These efforts also include offering a Veteran-to-Veteran volunteer program. HCI Hospice Care Services' Veteran-to-Veteran Program pairs veterans who are hospice volunteers with patients who have served our country.

Veteran Partners provide companionship while talking, reading and sitting with patients. Sometimes veterans feel most comfortable sharing their experiences with fellow veterans.

Veterans have a unique skill set which can help patients come to terms with past events and find peace.

Transcriber's Note: Tragically, Charles Rolland "Charlie" Case lost his battle with cancer on May 4, 2016.

Photograph courtesy of Mount Ayr Record-News
Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, October of 2016