Hospice Heals Invisible Wounds With Veterans Ceremony November 11, 2025 Sometimes a man’s wounds are not visible to others, but the pain can linger for decades. One small gesture of appreciation cannot make up for the hurt endured – but sometimes it can provide a step toward healing. That is the hope of the We Honor Veterans pinning ceremony offered by Samaritan Evergreen Hospice for its patients who are military veterans. One such patient is Bill Alder of Newport, a veteran of the Vietnam War. He was honored recently with a pinning ceremony at his home, with wife Rita by his side. Other family members – including a grandson in Germany who recently retired from the U.S. military – were able to watch via a Teams livestream. Born in 1937, Alder undoubtedly witnessed the hero’s welcome given to soldiers returning home from service in World War II and the Korean War. In 1961, at the age of 24, he was drafted into the U.S. Army to serve during the Vietnam War. He worked as a chemist, and one of his duties was helping to make Agent Orange, the powerful and deadly defoliant. With our nation at the height of anti-war sentiment, nightly news broadcasts were filled with scenes of horror overseas and of antiwar protestors at home who shouted their outrage or turned a cold shoulder to returning military men and women. Many veterans, including Alder, bore the brunt of this, further adding to their emotional wounds and PTSD. We Honor Veterans Ceremony Missi Kelley, a hospice social worker, told the Alders about the possibility of a pinning ceremony. “Rita had told me that Bill does not like to discuss his service, and he has pushed it in the background for over 50 years,” Kelley said. “When I explained the pinning ceremony and asked if he would like to receive the pinning as our thanks for his service, Rita began to cry. This is the first time Bill has been thanked for being a veteran and she is hoping the ceremony will heal some of those wounds and allow him to be proud of his service and not ashamed.” Tim Fitzgerald, a hospice volunteer, also served with the U.S. Army and was honored to perform the ceremony. “Tim feels a connection with other veterans as part of an elite group and he did an amazing job of thanking Bill for his service,” Kelley said. “There wasn’t a dry eye in the room or online with family and friends.” This pinning ceremony for Bill Alder is a long overdue “welcome home” celebration.
