Every veteran deserves our praise for answering the call to protect the freedoms that make this country so wonderful. Last Monday, November 11, Veterans Day, patriotic tunes lit up the faces of residents at Margaret Tietz Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, led by opera and classical singer Ricardo Rosa Sola, Director of Recreation. Sola, who has been singing for over 25 years, is a Compassionate Activity Professional who motivates those he engages with by positively impacting program operations and has a record of resident successes due to his signature diligent support. A few dozen gathered with heartfelt American pride as the classic tunes radiated.
“My father was a veteran, and Veterans Day was always very important to him,” said Linda Spiegel, Director of Public Affairs, who noted that each year she would phone her father to thank him for his service fighting in the Korean War, rising to the title of Sergeant. She described how proud he was of those years in the Army and how he enjoyed the annual recognition that Veterans Day brought to service members.
Assembly Member Sam Berger dropped by to hand-deliver State Assembly Citations to the resident veterans. Although unable to stay, due to an unforeseen emergency, his desire to personally ensure each veteran was properly recognized at this occasion is noteworthy. Resident service members include Robert Gibson; Franklin Martin, Air Force veteran; Jack Alkana, who wore a hat proudly showing his US Navy service; Willie Canon, US Army; Raymond Gatlin, US Army; and Joel Zamisky, US Army Reservist. Also, unexpectedly present for the service was Chris Goldberg, an Iraq War veteran, whose late father was a former Tietz resident.
Most touching was Sola’s rendition of Katherine Lee Bates’ “America The Beautiful.” Inspired by a trip to Pikes Peak in 1893, Bates penned the poem that first appeared in print on July 4, two years later, in The Congregationalist, a weekly journal. Bates famously revised the lyrics in 1904 and again in 1913, resulting in the version sung today.
Sola has over a decade of experience in long-term care therapeutic recreation with a specialization in memory care and person-centered programming with dedication to continuously enhancing strategies and augmenting assistance, making his daily presence at the Jamaica Hills center vital.
By Shabsie Saphirstein
