American Legion, VFW in Medina honor veterans

Group visited vets at Orchard  Rehabilitation and Nursing Center

Photos by Ginny Kropf

MEDINA – Dave Kusmierczak, a member of the American Legion and VFW in Medina, greets veteran Frank Ranallo during a ceremony Thursday at Orchard  Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in honor of Veterans Day. Ranallo was formerly a member of the same veterans’ organizations with Kusmierczak.

Saluting its 24 resident veterans is a tradition at Orchard Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, where on Thursday morning members of the American Legion and VFW presented a three-gun salute and playing of Taps.

The ceremony also included a prayer and patriotic reading by Legion and VFW member Dave Kusmierczak.

The veterans were in the entryway to watch the ceremony unfold before them in the parking lot. Previously, the annual ceremony took place in the courtyard, but because of Covid, visitors are not allowed to walk through the nursing home, said activities director Jamie Murphy.

Following the patriotic services, the veterans were treated to coffee and donuts donated by Tops. In the afternoon the residents enjoyed karaoke and patriotic songs.

Members of the Medina American Legion and VFW stand at attention before firing a three-gun salute at Orchard Rehabilitation and Nursing Center on Thursday morning. From left are Glenn Whitmore, Jim Wells, John Follman, Greg Smith, Eric Delano, Dan Anderson and Steve Earle. In front, Dave Kusmierczak offers a prayer. At far right is Jim Freas.

From left, Dave Morien and Rebecca Platt wait with bugler Bradley Nudd for patriotic services to begin Thursday at Orchard Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Medina.

Amanda Luckman, finance coordinator at Orchard Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, chats with veteran Larie Vagg, a former resident of Barre Center, prior to a Veteran’s Day service on Thursday morning.

Photos contributed by Lynne Menz

Following a Veterans Day ceremony at Orchard Manor Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, members of the Medina American Legion and VFW gathered at the YMCA to conduct patriotic services there. Bugler Bradley Nudd plays Taps at the site of the Company F Memorial in front of the former Medina Armory.

Members of the American Legion and VFW line up for a three-gun salute in honor of veterans at the Company F Memorial on Thursday morning.