Vets honored at Autumn Care
Published 10:19 pm Tuesday, November 10, 2015
![Suffolk Sheriff's Office Maj. E.C. Harris talks to Navy veteran Donald Carter, right, who served in the South Pacific during World War II, and Army veteran Eugene Milteer, left, during a luncheon at Autumn Care on Tuesday.](https://www.suffolknewsherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2015/11/IMG_0200.jpg)
Suffolk Sheriff’s Office Maj. E.C. Harris talks to Navy veteran Donald Carter, right, who served in the South Pacific during World War II, and Army veteran Eugene Milteer, left, during a luncheon at Autumn Care on Tuesday.
Veterans living and working at Autumn Care of Suffolk were treated to a luncheon by the Suffolk Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday, the day before Veterans Day.
“We wanted to give back to some veterans, and this is probably the best place to come for that,” Maj. E.C. Harris of the Suffolk Sheriff’s Office said.
Six members of the sheriff’s office — five of them former military, the sixth the son of a veteran who lives at Autumn Care — brought pizza and chicken nuggets, beverages, decorations and more for the 14 veteran residents and several veteran staff members.
“It’s a mighty nice gesture,” said Vietnam-era veteran Doug Beacham, who served for two years in the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division after being drafted in 1971.
All of the veterans — sheriff’s deputies and Autumn Care residents alike — swapped stories about war and basic training, as well as friendly jabs at different branches of the military. Army, Navy and Air Force were represented at the event.
The veterans received small American flags, patriotic hats and popcorn to take back to their rooms. Those who were not able to leave their rooms for the event also received the takeaway goodies.
Harris said this is the first year of the Veterans Day event but that the office plans to continue it in the future. Nearly a third of the personnel in the sheriff’s office are veterans, he added.
Deputies also have been visiting Autumn Care on other special days, including Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and Valentine’s Day.