Delaware Veterans Home celebrates 10-year anniversary

The Delaware Veterans Home celebrated its 10-year anniversary in a ceremony held June 12. Local, state and national officials spoke at the event. A contingent of home residents, all Delaware veterans, was on hand to mark the milestone.

The keynote speaker was Gov. John Carney. In his address, Carney recognized Harriet Smith Windsor for her efforts to establish a veterans home during her tenure as Delaware secretary of state. He raised his voice, and thanked former Gov. Ruth Ann Minner, who was not in attendance but lives about a mile away, for making the veterans home one of her primary objectives.

Carney said, “When you think about it, this is probably the most important way that we provide service for our veterans, at a time when they need us the most - to provide quality care for them in the twilight of their lives.”

U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester followed Carney and said, “As your congressperson, I look forward to the next 10 years. To be there to support you, to be there to fight for funding for you, and also to be there to celebrate moments and milestones like this.”

U.S. Sen. Tom Carper related his experience with the GI Bill in regard to veterans services, and said of the Delaware Veterans Home, “It’s not just a building; it’s not just an institution. It’s a real home for these men and women, and for those who have come before and those who will come after. We owe you folks a lot.”

Lt. Gov. Bethany Halll-Long said, “I hope that someday … we can expand this facility. We have 100 veterans on the waiting list, and it is my aspiration and dream that we can change that and eliminate the wait list.”

The Delaware Veterans Home, established in 2007, is a long-term-care facility located on 24 acres in Milford. It offers skilled nursing care on four units with a total of 150 beds. Its mission is to provide outstanding long-term-care services to Delaware veterans to uphold dignity and respect while sustaining and improving their quality of life. For more information, go to www.vethome.delaware.gov.