101-Year-Old Widow of Air Force Veteran Honored

My name is Maria Mandaleni-Orozco and I’m the southern Nevada Outreach Director for NDVS. Earlier this month I had the honor and privilege to attend one of our Veterans in Care (VIC) ceremonies at the independent living facility, Revel Nevada, in Henderson. It was quite an amazing experience.

Director Fred Wagar and I met a 101-year-old widow of a U.S. Air Force veteran. Her name is Dotty Burgess, and she was married to Frank Burgess for 77 years! We also met Hugh Lewis, a U.S. Navy veteran who survived an explosion at Pearl Harbor during WWII! He is 96-years-young and still going strong!

This is only my second VIC ceremony, but I feel I’m truly blessed to be a part of it! For those not familiar with the VIC program, it enhances the quality-of-life for Nevada’s veterans living in community-based care, not just those living in one of our two State Veterans Homes. NDVS staff visits these facilities across Nevada providing VIC ceremonies, honoring veterans (or their spouse) living at the facility, for their U.S. military service. Many times, these recognition ceremonies bring tears of gratitude and joy for being remembered and honored for service so long ago!

VIC ceremonies also provide us with the opportunity to connect these residents to earned benefits and services by offering immediate access to a Veterans Service Officer, who joins us for the ceremonies. 

To top off all the celebrations in November, a VIC ceremony was also held for all residents and veteran staff members at the Southern Nevada State Veterans Home (SNSVH) on Friday, November 18^th. A total of 139 veterans were recognized for their service, including eight employees of SNSVH. In addition to recognizing veterans, the VIC program honors the sacrifices made by spouses in times of service. Twenty-four spouses were also provided recognition in the honor of their loved one.

Being able to celebrate all the residents of the SNSVH was an event like no other! NDVS would like to thank the American Legion Post 76 Honor Guard and staff at the Southern Home for their dedicated support at both ceremonies held on the 18^th.

While I support the program, I’m not the program manager for VIC. That honor belongs to my colleague, Rachel Jelenic. She conducts these ceremonies and schedules them across Nevada. If you want to learn more about this program or schedule a VIC, contact Rachel at jelenicr@veterans.nv.gov.