Each Veteran’s Day a Veteran’s service is held at Berkshire Nursing Home. The Masonic War vets participate in the service and each resident that is a Veteran is introduced and they are given a gift. Special prayers are offered and candles are lit. Charles Mendell, past commander of NY State Masonic War Veterans has assisted the Rev. Juanita Duryea Hilsenbeck with this ceremony for 10 years. Each year the staff and residents look forward to this special service.

Shown in the photo are Rev. Juanita Duryea Hilsenbeck, Pastor of the Dix Hills Community Church; POWs Hastings Felder and Annette Reeves, who both served in the Navy in WWII and Charles Mendell. Both residents hold the patriotic bears that were presented to them.