Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke, 110 Cherry St., Holyoke, MA 01040 | 413 532 9475| mass.gov/hly

2017 Volume 1

The Newsletter of the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke

Joe M. recites the Pledge of Allegiance.

VETERANS’ DAY 2016

FLAG & STAFF

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Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke, 110 Cherry St., Holyoke, MA 01040 | 413 532 9475| mass.gov/hly

SUNDAY 10:00 AM Catholic Mass

TUESDAY 10:00 AM Communion distributed on all units

1:00 PM Rosary Devotions

WEDNESDAY 9:30 AM Bible Study in Chapel

4th THURSDAY of the month at 1:15 PM Protestant Service

in Chapel

FRIDAY 3 - 4 PM Divine Mercy Prayer Group in

Chapel

NOTE: All services,

except the Bible Study, will be televised on channel 54

~~~~~~~~~ Please allow Veterans from

Care Center 1 to exit the Chapel first. Thank you.

~~~~~~~~~ The use of all electronic

devices is prohibited in the Chapel

Brother Frank Grimaldi, Chaplain

NOVEMBER Eugene A. Gagnon

Michael R. Finn Paul E. Stanton

Charles E. Ehrenfried Paul F. Rufo

Raymond L. Godin Robert J. Joy

Donald Clark Stephen Curti

Robert Newman Stanley Mega

Robert B. Newman Richard W. Williams

Betty H. Dion Maurice Scott

James Occhiuzzo Joseph Frankowski, Jr.

Willard R. Boutwell

DECEMBER James Mackey

James W. Canavan George Megas

Richard W. Erickson Deane W. Bates

Robert A. Oellette Richard T. Tremblay

Stephen R. Robert Chester S. Ukleja

Wayne G. Whittemore Walter L. Repetto

Jimmie Joe Hill Glenn G. Scruton

Samuel Zima Joseph A. Mieleszko

Alfred R. Goyette William C. Lafreniere

CHAPEL SERVICES

! Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke, 110 Cherry St., Holyoke, MA 01040 | 413 532 9475| mass.gov/hly

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Our newest Soldiers’ Home

Veterans

NOVEMBER

Michael Magelinski, Sr. Raymond L. Buzzee Raymond L. Godin

Wilber G. Beauchane Richard W. Dudley

Roy B Vickery William J. Vickery

Eugene D. Roux Bruce J. Lafreniere

Edward H. Jacot Alphonse A. Roy Earl P. Wagner

James A. Zedonis Alfred L. Bourett

Laurence N. Brady

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Veteran’s Day Coffee Hour

Sponsored by VFW & AUX, District 7

DECEMBER

William J. Dean, Jr. Ronald Langevin

Roland R. Beauregard Walter S. Kieszek

William C. Sullivan Stanley E. Williams Arthur J. Desjardins Robert A. Ouellette

Mario D. Nardi Joseph P. Larkin, Jr.

Paul Stylos Stanley P. Chiz Evan R. Enders

Edward F. Wilson

! Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke, 110 Cherry St., Holyoke, MA 01040 | 413 532 9475| mass.gov/hly

VETERAN

SPOTLIGHT

FEATURING:

Dino Mottarella

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Dino Mottarella was born on January 9, 1924 in Lee, MA. He had one sister who passed away many years ago. At the age of 3 he moved to New Rochelle, New York

and lived there until the early 1990’s when he moved to Westfield, MA.

Dino was inducted into the Army on July 20, 1943. He worked as a gunner on a tank in the 749th Tank Battalion serving under the 1st, 3rd and 7th armies, with 9 infantry

divisions. Dino served in 5 campaigns: Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, and Central Europe. The 749th spent 196 days in battle. Dino was

active for 178 of those days. He arrived in France on July 1, 1944 and while stationed there he met his wife Etiennette and the two were married in 1945 in a town called Fos-sur-Mer, near Marseilles. Dino was wounded in battle, earning him a purple

heart, one of 8 medals awarded to him.

Dino has 2 children, 4 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren with one more on the way. He worked as a carpenter and electrician for 40 years for Calgi Construction.

Dino belonged to the Catholic War Veterans and the VFW of Toledo.

In his youth, Dino ran bingos at the Boys’ & Girls’ Club in New Rochelle, as well as teaching carpentry to the young people there.

After the loss of his wife, he joined a close friend and travelled a lot. He also taught classes on WWII in Mt. Pleasant, MI, one of the places they would visit.

Here at the Soldiers’ Home, Dino loves to put together jigsaw puzzles and mod podge them to hang on the wall. He also enjoys music, especially that of the WWII era

(1940’s) and is an avid bingo player.

We are proud to have Dino as part of our Soldiers’ Home Family. Thank you!

! Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke, 110 Cherry St., Holyoke, MA 01040 | 413 532 9475| mass.gov/hly

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1 North Visits with Bright Spot Therapy dog, Brinkley

Photos courtesy of Doris Santana, CNA

Visit with Sophie Vanilla Cookie

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PET THERAPY

! Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke, 110 Cherry St., Holyoke, MA 01040 | 413 532 9475| mass.gov/hly

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Happy 241st Birthday to the

Navy!!

Happy Birthday, Bob R.!!

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! Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke, 110 Cherry St., Holyoke, MA 01040 | 413 532 9475| mass.gov/hly

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Submariners visit the Soldiers’ Home

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Painting Trip to Mt. Tom Reservation

Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke, 110 Cherry St., Holyoke, MA 01040 | 413 532 9475| mass.gov/hly

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! Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke, 110 Cherry St., Holyoke, MA 01040 | 413 532 9475| mass.gov/hly

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Recreation Staff - Halloween Style

Photo to left courtesy of Ted D. 4E

… continued.

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! Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke, 110 Cherry St., Holyoke, MA 01040 | 413 532 9475| mass.gov/hly

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Springfield’s Academy Hill Students

John Nowak Jazz Quartet

! Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke, 110 Cherry St., Holyoke, MA 01040 | 413 532 9475| mass.gov/hly

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St. Stanislaus School Trip and Donation

Veterans’ Ceremony at Holyoke Community College

Breakfast at Tekoa Country Club

! Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke, 110 Cherry St., Holyoke, MA 01040 | 413 532 9475| mass.gov/hly

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Stoney

John C. celebrated his 90th birthday with family &

friends.

1 North Veterans … photos courtesy of Doris Santana, CNA

! Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke, 110 Cherry St., Holyoke, MA 01040 | 413 532 9475| mass.gov/hly

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Analize and her grandfather, Larry White, volunteers, present a banner to some of our Veterans to thank them for their service to our country. The banner was

made by students at Glenwood Elementary School, Springfield.

Joe Byron’s Presentation on Honor Flight, with a few words

from our own Tony Page.

! Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke, 110 Cherry St., Holyoke, MA 01040 | 413 532 9475| mass.gov/hly

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1 North December Birthdays

Photos courtesy of Doris Santana, CNA

Marie S. from 4 East

recently celebrated her 98th birthday

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Our own Millie Dunbar, recently dropped the puck at a Thunderbirds hockey game.

Go Millie!!

! Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke, 110 Cherry St., Holyoke, MA 01040 | 413 532 9475| mass.gov/hly

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Honoring our Korean War Veterans

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Pearl Harbor Day Presentation by Richard Pinkus Center image: Our own“Survivor”, Joe M.

! Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke, 110 Cherry St., Holyoke, MA 01040 | 413 532 9475| mass.gov/hly

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Springfield Symphony Chorus

Veterans’ Christmas Parties

! Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke, 110 Cherry St., Holyoke, MA 01040 | 413 532 9475| mass.gov/hly

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Visit and goody bags from CapGemini Veterans Employee Resource Group

Donation by Polish American Veterans L to R: Richard Gosciminski, PAV, Chairman, Bennett Walsh, Superintendent and Walter Nowak, PAV Commander

Vietnam Veterans Donation L to R.Chuck Watts, Kate Farrell, Recreation Dept.,Del Barabani, &

Jim Frenette.

Some of our Generous Benefactors

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Donation by Amvets Post #74, Three Rivers accepted by Margaret Feyre,

Director of Recreation

Army Staff Sergeant Pierce, First Sergeant Jason Earl, Bennett Walsh, Superintendent,

Captain Marcellus SimmonsThe Big Y employees generously donated items for our Veterans and for the Recreation Dept.

! Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke, 110 Cherry St., Holyoke, MA 01040 | 413 532 9475| mass.gov/hly

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Victory 4 Veterans Motorcycle Run Donation

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Some of our Generous Benefactors

! Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke, 110 Cherry St., Holyoke, MA 01040 | 413 532 9475| mass.gov/hly

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Superintendent’s Corner

Bennett W. Walsh

To all Dedicated Care Givers, Veterans, Board of Trustees, Volunteers, and Families of Soldier’s Home in Holyoke: Happy 2017 to one and all! I am pleased to report on two items this edition that end 2016 in fine fashion and give us a fast start to 2017. 1. 2016- we ended this past year with a significant amount of holiday donations (fiscally, gifts, cookies, candies, mini Christmas trees, etc, etc) and thru countless Holiday events (Christmas carolers, Christmas parties, etc ,etc) in November and December. It literally would be impossible to thank everyone for their support as the number would be in the thousands of care givers, families and volunteers who went above and beyond to make the Holiday season 2016 so wonderful for our veterans! A December 2016 event was the $50,000 donation by the “Victory for Veterans” motorcycle ride contingent. On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I am pleased to announce that the generous donation will be utilized for medical equipment that will positively affect the veterans in their home. Shifting our focus to 2017, the Soldiers Home underwent our yearly Veterans’ administration’s inspection in early January. Due to the tireless efforts of our entire staff of providing care with honor and dignity, I am humbled and proud to report that we performed very well on the inspection. The VA team stated that the Soldiers Home truly is a home based on the overall interaction of all the staff with both the veterans and their families and was impressed with the level of care providing on a daily basis to our beloved veterans. In closing, a continued “thank you” for your unfaltering and 24/7 commitment and support of the Soldiers’ home in Holyoke. I look forward to seeing, and working with, all of you in 2017. Semper Fidelis, Bennett W. Walsh Superintendent-The Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke

! Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke, 110 Cherry St., Holyoke, MA 01040 | 413 532 9475| mass.gov/hly

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MILITARY HISTORY

JANUARY 17 - Operation Desert Storm began (1991)

23 - USS Pueblo captured near North Korea (1968) 27 - U.S. Military draft ends (1972)

27 - Vietnam Peace Accord Signed (1973) 30 - Tet Offensive begins in South Vietnam (1968)

FEBRUARY 19 - Battle at Iwo Jima began (1945)

23 - U.S. flag raised over Iwo Jima (1945) 28 - Operation Desert Storm, cessation of hostilities (1991)

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DIRECTORY TELEPHONE NUMBERS: ■Recreation Department (413) 532-9475, extension 5321260 ■Outpatient Department (413) 532-9475, extension 5321153 ■Pharmacy (413) 552-4771 ■Admissions/Eligibility (413) 552-4764 ■Social Services (413) 532-9475, extension 5524729 ■Volunteer Services (413) 532-9475, extension 5321377 ■Director of Nursing (413) 552-4703 ■Business Office (413) 532-9475, extension 5321133 ■Director of Operations (413) 532-9475, extension 5321102 ■Dental Department (413) 420-6270 ■Veterans’ Assistance Center (VAC): (413) 538-5923

WEBSITES: Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke: mass.gov/hly Friends of the Soldiers’ Home: friendsofthesoldiershome.org