We Honor Veterans Releases New Video to Recruit Hospice Partners

In March of 2018, three NHPCO staff members – Katherine Kemp, Hope Fost, and I - embarked on a trip to Severn, Maryland to meet Albert Sherard, a 92-year-old Vietnam Veteran and Hospice of the Chesapeake patient. We interviewed Mr. Sherard, his daughter Winette, and members of the hospice staff to create a video that would give partners a tool to promote the work they are doing, help educate the public about We Honor Veterans and more importantly, recruit new hospice partners to the program. We gathered great material to work with but came away from this trip with much more. We all felt honored to spend time with an American hero and witness the beautiful connection that he and his Veteran-to-Veteran volunteer have made. To see the benefits of the We Honor Veterans program in person and in action is priceless!

In the video, viewers get a glimpse of how Albert and his Veteran-to-Veteran volunteer Charles DeBarber spend their time together. The Veteran to- Veteran volunteer initiative is a required activity once WHV partners reach Level Three. Hospice of the Chesapeake, a Level Four partner, has has a robust Veteran-to-Veteran volunteer program.

Pictured left to right are Veteran-toVeteran volunteer Charles DeBarber, Katherine Kemp, Amanda Bow, Albert Sherard, Winette Sherard, and Hope Fost.

 “Our We Honor Veterans program brings together our Veterans in the community to our Veteran patients,” said Hospice of the Chesapeake Director of Volunteer Services Mary Jermann. “And there’s a really powerful brotherhood and relationship there that is experienced through the multitude of the relationships that are formed here at Hospice of the Chesapeake.”

Albert was an avid gardener but with his declining condition, he is unable to be as active as he once was. Charles has found a way to bring the outside in. The video shows the two Veterans at Albert’s kitchen table preparing plants that will eventually make their way into the ground. The connection between the two is evident on screen and Albert’s daughter Winette reinforces the idea. “I think he feels good that it’s a Veteran he can talk to,” Winette said. “There is something that happens that makes it a brotherhood, even though they are very different ages.”

Additionally, the video highlights the goals of the WHV program and explains why it’s vital that hospice organizations become partners.

Hospice of the Chesapeake CEO & President Ben Marcantonio encourages other hospice programs to join WHV. “We became keenly aware of how many Veterans are served through our hospice population. Those people who need hospice care - of those people, 25% in our region are Veterans. So just that in and of itself was a compelling argument for our commitment to this aspect of our service.”

WHV partner programs are invited to use the video to educate their community about their partnership and for promotional opportunities.  Watch the video below; it can also be found on the WHV website and on YouTube. 

By Amanda Bow
Director of Communications
NHPCO