As fellow Veterans gathered around his bedside, sharing stories of military service and sacrifice, one hospice patient appeared unresponsive. Then something remarkable happened. From beneath the covers, he slowly raised his hand and returned a salute.
Moments like these remind us that military service remains a meaningful part of a person’s identity throughout life. At Lower Cape Fear LifeCare, honoring that service is more than a special event or volunteer program. It is part of who we are.
Lower Cape Fear LifeCare is a Level Five Partner in the We Honor Veterans program, a collaboration between the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the National Alliance for Care at Home. Level Five is the highest distinction available and reflects our commitment to providing compassionate, Veteran-centered care while helping Veterans access the recognition, resources and support they deserve.
LC Blue Shirts (Submitted by Laura Long)
That commitment begins with education. Each year, staff and volunteers participate in training focused on Veteran-specific experiences and needs, including post-traumatic stress, moral injury, available benefits and community resources. Just as important, we encourage our team members to listen. Every Veteran has a unique story and understanding those experiences helps us provide more meaningful care.
Our commitment extends beyond the patients we serve. Throughout the year, Lower Cape Fear LifeCare works alongside community partners to recognize and support Veterans across southeastern North Carolina and northeastern South Carolina.
One of the most meaningful examples is our annual Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans event held in recognition of National Vietnam Veterans Day. The first event took place aboard Battleship NORTH CAROLINA. As Veterans walked up the ramp and were greeted by supporters holding “Welcome Home” signs, many were visibly moved. For some, it was the first time they had received the gratitude and recognition they deserved after returning home from service decades earlier.
Veterans have shared that these events provide healing, connection and validation. For our team, they serve as a powerful reminder of why this work matters.
LC Veterans Eagle Charles Brogdon (Submitted by Laura Long)
That same spirit of connection can be found in our Veteran cafés, where Veterans gather to share stories, build friendships and enjoy the camaraderie that comes from shared experiences. These gatherings take place in assisted living communities, skilled nursing facilities, churches and neighborhood clubhouses throughout our service area.
Lower Cape Fear LifeCare also partners with organizations that support Veterans and their families, including local Veteran coalitions, American Legion posts, VFW chapters, Hospice-Veteran Partnerships in North Carolina and South Carolina, Honor Flight, Wreaths Across America and the Cape Fear Purple Heart Dinner. Our Veterans Memorial Gardens in Brunswick and New Hanover counties provide peaceful spaces where families can honor and remember loved ones who served.
LC Volunteers (Submitted by Laura Long)
At the heart of our Veteran program, however, are the Veteran volunteers who serve through our Vet-to-Vet Program. These volunteers understand the unique experiences of military service because they have lived them. When a Veteran volunteer sits beside a fellow Veteran, conversations often happen naturally. Trust develops more quickly. Stories are shared. Families gain comfort knowing their loved one is connecting with someone who understands a part of their life that others may not fully grasp.
These relationships often become some of the most meaningful moments in a Veteran’s end-of-life journey.
One of the most powerful expressions of that connection is the Veteran pinning ceremony. During these ceremonies, Veteran volunteers formally recognize a patient’s military service and sacrifice while honoring the role families have played throughout that journey. For many Veterans, it is a deeply meaningful moment of appreciation. For spouses, children, and grandchildren, it can provide comfort, pride and a sense of closure.
LC Flag Folding (Submitted by Laura Long)
Our team has witnessed countless examples of the impact these ceremonies can have. Sometimes it is a smile. Sometimes it is a story shared for the first time. Sometimes it is a final salute returned from a hospital bed.
In 2025 alone, Lower Cape Fear LifeCare served 775 Veteran patients. During that time, five Veteran pinning teams conducted 232 pinning ceremonies. Eighty-one Veteran volunteers contributed more than 3,000 hours of service to fellow Veterans and their families.
Those numbers tell an important story, but they only capture part of the impact.
The true measure of this work is found in the moments of connection, gratitude and dignity that take place every day. It is found in Veterans who feel seen and appreciated. It is found in families who witness their loved one’s service being honored. It is found among volunteers who continue to serve long after their military careers have ended.
As our nation commemorates 250 years of independence, we are reminded that the story of our country has been shaped by generations of men and women who answered the call to serve. At Lower Cape Fear LifeCare, we are privileged to serve them in return.
Honoring Veterans is not simply one of our programs. It is a commitment to recognizing a lifetime of service, preserving stories that deserve to be remembered, and ensuring that every Veteran we serve receives the dignity, respect and gratitude they have earned.
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