Honoring veterans this July Fourth

With the July Fourth holiday fast approaching, Brookdale Senior Living and the nonprofit organization Wish of a Lifetime are celebrating patriotism by sharing the stories of four high-flying World War II veterans whose Wishes of taking to the skies again were fulfilled by the organizations. Granting these Wishes was a way to honor the service of these American heroes and to demonstrate that there is no age limit for taking new adventures. Since Brookdale and Wish of a Lifetime™ started their partnership in 2010, more than 80 of their Wishes have commemorated the service of Brookdale veterans across the country.

"Being able to do anything to honor a veteran is special, but fulfilling their Wish of a Lifetime creates a lasting impact and memories they can keep forever," says Sara Terry, senior vice president of resident and family engagement. "It's a very meaningful way to thank them for their service and the contributions they have made to our nation."

Each of the veterans highlighted here has their own story to tell, but what ties them together is their love of flight. Howard "Mac" McCue, 104, not only got his Wish to fly for the first time in 20 years but he was also surprised with the Congressional Gold Medal. Thrill seeker Jack Dorshaw, 97, got behind the controls and flew a fighter jet when his Wish was granted. Roger Dawson, 95, revisited the days he spent training pilots when he fulfilled his Wish to fly the SNJ-4 Texan again, the same aircraft he used in teaching other service members. Charlie Grace, 91, finally fulfilled his lifelong Wish when he piloted a fully restored P-51 Mustang fighter, something he had dreamed of doing since he first joined the military so many years ago.

"It was so exciting that at age 91, I could still fly an airplane like that," said Charlie of his Wish experience. "Just the idea that I could do something like this again, I never could have imagined. I feel like a kid again."

Nearly 44 percent of residents who moved into a Brookdale community last year were either veterans or the spouse of a veteran. These Wish experiences gave those veterans the opportunity to reconnect with their past, make new memories and reflect on their service to their country. The simple act of granting a Wish can help them find fulfillment in the six dimensions of Optimum Life, Brookdale's wellness platform of purposeful, emotional, physical, social, spiritual and intellectual health.

"Being able to grant Wishes for veterans is great because you have the opportunity to give back to those who have sacrificed so much for so many," says Tom Wagenlander, executive director of Wish of a Lifetime. "It is an honor to be a part of saluting these great Americans."

In 2010, Brookdale and Wish of a Lifetime formed a partnership to provide a helping hand in making some of the dreams of Brookdale's residents come true. To request a Wish, residents fill out a Wish application explaining an experience they would like to have fulfilled and how that experience relates to one or more dimensions of Brookdale's Optimum Life platform. Since the partnership's inception in 2010, more than 800 Brookdale seniors have had their Wish granted.

Click here to see their wishes come true.