ARTHURDALE — WV Caring surprised a hospice patient Wednesday. Franklin Harris is a World War II veteran who had his medals separated from him.
He came home from the war with a broken hip and was immediately sent to a hospital after being discharged. During this process, all of his medals were lost.
WV Caring worked closely with the VA and other organizations to try to locate the medals and was fortunate enough to find them and present them to Harris.
Penny Fletcher, a staff member at WV Caring, said, “That’s really what the event was about, was to honor him this one last time and to give him a welcome home he didn’t receive when he came home from the war.”
Cindy Woodyard, vice president of Public Affairs, said WV Caring is an end-of-life facility, and part of its purpose is to honor people’s last wishes or bring closure.
Woodyard said, “In this case, Mr. Harris needed closure from something that happened when he was 20 years old. He is 95, going to be 96, and that was something that was lingering with him.”
WV Caring is a part of the national We Honor Veterans program. Woodyard said the organization works to recruit veterans who want to serve other veterans at end of life and provide comfort. They share stories and do life reviews as well as help veterans find closure in their final days.
Woodyard said, “This is an honor for us to be able to help someone and be in their lives in such a personal way. And we hope today was something special for Mr. Harris because he bravely, as a young man, served our country in a very dangerous time in a very dangerous world not only in one location, but three. And we’re so happy we were able to do this. God bless him.”
