Colonial Heights resident's autograph collection spans decades
Gene Tipton started collecting autographs when he was 25. Now, decades later, he has nearly a thousand. "One of the first ones was from composer David Rose," Gene recalls. "[He's] one of my favorite musicians." At Brookdale Colonial Heights, his walls are covered in signed pictures, with hundreds more carefully kept in binders.
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101-year-old WWII veteran is the last surviving member of his local county's heroes club
At Brookdale Robinwood, 101-year-old Henry Arrowood still ponders his wartime experience. Henry is a member of the local WWII Last Man Club. At one time, that included some 300 veterans. Now, Henry is the last one living. He didn't expect to be the last. “Well, being the last man [standing] in the county, what about the state?” he asked. “I feel like I could live a long time yet.“
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101-year-old Brookdale Liverpool resident remembers fighting in D-Day
Frank Burgmeier had a dream to serve his country. And on June 6th, 1944, that dream put him in the air over Normandy on one of the most consequential moments in history. “I did 65 missions and my 39th was D Day, the biggest moment of my life, ever,” Frank recalls. More than nine thousand Allied troops were killed or wounded on D-Day. Frank remembers a glorious chaos. “It was almost… otherworldly,” he adds.
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Brookdale Rotonda resident was one of the first paratroopers to land at Normandy
Even 80 years later, George Fotovich still remembers D-Day. “Everything happens so fast you don’t have much time to think about it,” he says. “It’s not a matter of being afraid. It’s a job. When you do a job, you do it whether you think about it or not." George fought in other battles during WWII, including the Battle of the Bulge. It earned him a Purple Heart.
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Brookdale Peachtree residents honored in D-Day ceremony
Veterans at Brookdale Peachtree attended a ceremony to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day. Andy Pendleton fought in World War II. At 101-years-old, he says the ceremony brought back memories. "Things I didn’t remember from 80 years ago became real again. I was lucky and survived without [getting] hurt. And I praise those who gave their life for us so that we could enjoy freedom."
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Remembering D-Day: Florida resident, now 99, was a paratrooper at battle
These days, George Fotovich lives at Brookdale Rotonda. But 80 years ago, he served in the 82nd Airborne Division. George was a paratrooper, and fought on D-Day, helping the Allies turn the tide of World War II.
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Brookdale Henderson residents shine in Longview Area Senior Games
In Longview, Texas, 23 senior living communities came together for a day of competition: volleyball, bean-bag toss, dancing contests. Brookdale Henderson's residents dressed up as superheroes. Clara Braswell was getting her arm ready for the bean-bag toss. “We're all having fun together,” she said. This is the 10th year of the Longview Area Senior Games.
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Brookdale Jackson Oaks seniors celebrate Memorial Day
Brookdale Jackson Oaks is home to 28 veterans. And on Memorial Day, they were honored with a program, complete with music, poetry, and a guest speaker.
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84-year-old veteran saves memories from Vietnam in journals
In 1968, Lyle Parker was in Vietnam. He saved three fellow soldiers' lives, which earned him a Soldier's Medal. But Lyle is humble about it. “It didn’t seem like much,” he says. “It seemed like the right thing to do at the time.” Now, at 84, Lyle lives at Brookdale Wilmington. He journaled his experiences in Vietnam, and says it's helpful, as he has dementia.
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Brookdale Northwest Hills veteran recalls months as POW in Germany
Eighty years ago, George Burson remembers being shot down over Germany in World War II. For months, he and 19 other men lived as prisoners of war. They were finally freed after Russian liberated the camp. George was awarded a purple heart by General Dwight D. Eisenhower. But if George could have lived his life differently, he would have. "I would just work for the forest service. I wouldn't go to war."
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World War II Veteran remembers fallen brothers on Memorial Day
78 years ago, James Baynham was shot down over Germany. He and four others were held as POWs for eight months. Now, James is the only surviving member. “I just want my guys to be remembered,” he said. “They gave their lives for us.” James just turned 100. At Brookdale Club Hill, his family and friends hosted a patriotic birthday celebration for him.
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The "Brookdale Boys" bring music and friendship to their community
The "Brookdale Boys" aren't a typical boy band. But they know how to put on a show. They perform once a month, and practice a couple times a week. "Perfect, perfect, keep the life going, see?" says one member. "I'll soon be 90, and I'm more viable because of it. It's fun, we laugh a lot, and that's important."
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Vietnam War Veteran shares his experience through photo journals
Dr. Lyle Parker lives at Brookdale Wilmington. He was diagnosed with dementia several years ago, but he combats it through his photographs. Dr. Parker has hundreds of photos taken during his time in Vietnam. "A very foreign and strange place," he recalls. "It wasn't really a scenic country."
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105-year-old crowned prom queen at Brookdale Middleton Century Avenue
Residents at the Brookdale Middleton Century Avenue senior living community got to enjoy a "senior" prom on Thursday, and 105-year-old Emilie Novotoy was crowned the Prom Queen. She says it's not something she gets to experience every day. "They put a crown on me to see if I can behave," she joked.
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Brookdale Yakima helps raise money for Alzheimer's Awareness
In Yakima, Washington, senior living communities are teaming up with a local baseball team for the second annual Alzheimer's Awareness Night set for June 9. That includes Brookdale Yakima. They're putting on a fundraiser leading up to the game, and auctioning off 44 special jerseys that the baseball players will wear to the game and autograph. They hope to raise $8,000 this year. All proceeds will go to Walk to End Alzheimer's.
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