James Chamberlin, a 90-year-old Marine veteran of WWII and hospice patient, recently received a visit from Vet-to-Vet volunteer Dale Diermyer and UPMC Susquehanna hospice volunteer coordinator Ashley Stensland to thank and recognize him for his military service.

During a ceremony at his home with his sons, Jeff Chamberlin and Steven Snyder, James Chamberlain, of Turbotville, was presented with an American flag pin, a personalized certificate and a short proclamation thanking him for his service.

Veteran patients in hospice care through UPMC Susquehanna receive a little extra recognition thanks to the “We Honor Veterans” program in partnership with the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The hospital has been participating in the program for nine years and honors about 25 veterans each year.

The veterans in hospice care, whether in the Gatehouse facility at Divine Providence Hospital, in a nursing home or at the veterans home in one of the 12 counties the hospital serves, receive a visit from the Vet-toVet volunteer and are given the three honors James Chamberlin recently received.

The pins are given to them by a fellow veteran volunteer. “We go wherever we are needed” says Vet-to-Vet volunteer and U.S. Navy Veteran Peter Codispoti, who has been volunteering with the program for three years. “Veterans do for the veterans. Unless you are a veteran you really don’t know what it’s like veteran. We all signed a document, a contract that we would be willing to give up our lives if necessary.”

Having a fellow veteran present them with the pin is ideal, according to Diermyer.

“If you are a military member you have that total respect for a fellow veteran,” he added.

The reactions from the veterans vary, say the volunteers. “Some are in a state where they can’t talk to you and are in the final stages of passing away. Some get teary-eyed. I know I do,” Codispoti said.

The patients’ families usually are present for the pinning as well.

“There was one I remember doing where there were 15-20 family members,” Codispoti said. “They made a party out of it. That’s how it should be.”

“The families sacrificed too.” said Diermyer, a veteran of the Air Force. “Families want to do this to honor their loved one. We really try to honor their families, their spouses (because) they are all affected by the service person’s time away. It’s really honoring the whole family and their commitment.”

The ceremony honors the veteran, but also gives the patients an opportunity to talk about their time in the service.

“When we go out on these pinnings, it’s like a mini history lesson,” Stensland said. “The veterans will mention little details of the stories. We don’t want to lose those stories.”

Many times the Vet-to-Vet volunteers form friendships with fellow veterans.

Diermyer said the honor shared doesn’t end with the pinning. In a lot of cases, that’s just the beginning.

“I’ve had the opportunity to be able to go back and spend additional time with some of these folks,” Diermyer said. “Just sit and talk and you just start chatting. It gives them the opportunity to validate what it was that they did and give them the opportunity to share those things. My first one was a gentleman in Lock Haven and I went back and saw him several times. I attended his viewing and his funeral and have remained in touch with his family. So it doesn’t end with going in and giving them the certificate. It becomes a relationship as well.”

Patients staying at the Gatehouse who are veterans also receive an afghan of red, white and blue made by a team of local volunteers as well as an American flag decorating the door of their room.

“I feel it’s an excellent program that has given the opportunity for me to give back to those that did serve ahead of me,” Diermyer said. “It carries on a tradition of caring for some of those guys.”