Hospice of Michigan to Honor Greenville Veterans with Special Ceremony on August 10

GREENVILLE, MI, August 08, 2012 (Press-News.org) Hospice of Michigan will honor Greenville veterans with a special pinning ceremony on Friday, Aug. 10 at Metron of Greenville.

The nationally recognized leader in end-of-life care will join forces with West Michigan legislators, the long-term care facility and Greenville military organizations at 2 p.m. to honor 12 veterans at Metron of Greenville, 828 E. Washington Street. The ceremony is open to the public, and media are welcome to attend.

Veterans representing the Navy, Army, Air Force and Marines will be presented a certificate reflecting their branch of military service and an American flag pin honoring and thanking them for their military service. The pinning ceremony will also include a special "Missing Man" ceremony honoring MIA/POW servicemen and candle-lighting ceremony honoring the sacrifice of family members of veterans.

Dignitaries attending the service will include:

- State Sen. Judy K. Emmons, R-Sheridan, former minority vice chair of the Military Affairs, Veterans and Homeland Security Committee
- State Rep. Rick Outman, R-Six Lakes
- Greenville Mayor John Hoppough
- Honor Guards of the Ray I. Booth American Legion Post #101
- Honor Guards of VFW Lester J. Sitts Post #5065

Hospice of Michigan is a participant of the We Honor Vets program, a partnership between the Veterans Administration and the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, or NHPCO. The program was developed to enhance care for veterans at the end of life and includes both educational and ceremonial elements.

Participating hospices receive training to recognize and treat the unique issues facing military families, provide access to community resources, and facilitate cooperation between VA health agencies and hospice services. Hospice of Michigan, the largest not-for-profit hospice in the state, is in the process of training its care teams in 56 counties across Michigan. Dr. Michael Paletta, a retired Colonel and flight surgeon, is the executive champion of We Honor Vets for Hospice of Michigan.

About Hospice of Michigan
A nationally recognized leader in end-of-life care, Hospice of Michigan is the original - and largest - hospice in the state of Michigan. The non-profit organization cares for more than 1,000 patients each day in 56 counties, raising more than $4 million each year to cover the cost of care for the uninsured and underinsured. HOM offers innovative programs to enhance the quality of care for people at the end of life, education programs for physicians and healthcare professionals, caregiver education materials, cultural diversity programs for end-of-life care, and research and education programs at the Maggie Allesee Center for Quality of Life. For more information, call Hospice of Michigan's CARE Center 24/7 at 888.247.5701 or go to http://www.hom.org.