Renaissance Villages provides veteran assisted living options. Most recently 150 veterans, local community members, and political leaders came together to honor our veterans. We celebrated the Riverside National Cemetery Memorial Honor Detail, consisting of veterans representing all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, during a presentation that sought to create awareness of the importance of volunteerism in the community. The event was held in front of the soon-to-be-completed Renaissance Village Rancho Belago. This community is a luxury senior living facility, which is expected to open in October.
Honoring Veterans
The proceedings kicked off with the troops marching in lockstep to present the colors and raise the first US Flag over the new community. 40+ military veterans took part in the ceremony. The all-volunteer Memorial Honor Detail has provided honors at Riverside National Cemetery for more than 35,000 deceased veterans at no charge since the group’s inception in 1996.
Master Gunnery Sergeant Dan Smith, the chairman of the honor detail believes it is important for his group to continue to honor deceased veterans. ” All the men and women we do military honors for have given all that they had. We have volunteers right now, some as old as 95 years old.”
Smith also presented Al Rattan, President of Continental East Development, with the Challenge Coin from the United States Marines. This presentation indicates that Mr. Rattan and the Renaissance team are “part of the unity” and valued partners.
During the opening remarks, Rattan spoke of his son, an active Army Captain serving in Afghanistan. He also mentioned his own 28 years of service as a volunteer sworn reserve investigator deputy sheriff with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. Additionally, citing the volunteer spirit as exemplified by the Memorial Honor Detail.
“What’s interesting is that all of these men have served actively in the service, and here even in their senior years, they’re showing up in uniform. And when families need their services, most of them are not aware that it’s absolutely free. So we wanted to get them out here today to raise our first flag here at Renaissance.”
Mr. Rattan described the “Renaissance Lifestyle,” which provides an active and engaging lifestyle for our seniors. Also adding the important aspect of volunteerism for all ages and abilities.
