Providence Place News

Veterans honored in special ceremony

flag photo photo of couple

Providence Place residents and staff gathered outside Providence Place at 11:30 a.m. on Veterans Day to witness the ceremonial raising of the building’s new American Flag. Taking part in the ceremony were Master Sgt. Patricia Schanzer and Technical Sgt. Theresa Dionne of Westover Air Force Reserve Base’s 439th Patriot Wing Honor Guard. Representing Providence Place in the ceremony were Roger Korell, Providence Place’s Director of Maintenance, and Brian Bowler, a member of the Maintenance Staff.

Following the flag raising, the 15 U.S. Veterans living at Providence Place processed into the Dining Room for a special steak dinner topped off with a red, white, and blue patriotic dessert of vanilla ice cream topped with strawberries and blueberries.

Among the honorees were: U S Army personnel: Captain Raymond Fanelli, Technician Third Grade Sergeant Leon Gutfinski, Private First Class Donald Lemieux, Communications T4 Louis Marino, Technical Sergeant William O’Malley and Sergeant Leo Robert. Second Lieutenant Martha Miller represented the U.S. Army Nurse Corp.

The U.S. Navy representatives included veterans: Machinist Mate Second Class Guy Careau, Coxwain Gene Charette, Lieutenant Kenneth Nolan, Navy Aviation Machinist Mate, First Class, Paul Sullivan, Lieutenant Henry Wall, and U.S. Naval Aviation Lieutenant Junior Guard Edward Quigley.

The Providence Place veterans who served in the U.S. Air Force included Sergeant Harold Frey and Staff Sergeant Thomas Carleton.

Once all veterans were seated in the Dining Room, the Westover Color Guard retired the building’s former flag in an impressive, respectful and solemn ceremony ending with all in attendance singing the National Anthem.

Father Hugh Crean, chaplain at Providence Place, offered the blessing before the meal, saying, in part: “We come before God to this day with a sense of joy and gratitude as we honor our veterans for their faithful service for our country and for all they have done for our freedom.”

As is his Veterans Day custom, Richard Pelland, Executive Director, honored the Veterans with two additions to the Providence Place library: first, The World War II Memorial, a Smithsonian Book, with Douglas Brinkley as editor and a foreword by John S. D. Eisenhower; and the PBS Home Video titled, Carrier, about an air craft carrier currently on a tour of duty in Iraq.

Security Escort System at Providence Place

Our residents' personal safety and security are paramount to us! For that reason Providence Place is pleased to announce the safety advantages available to them through our recently installed BOSCH Security Escort System. Once enrolled in the BOSCH System, residents gain the additional sense of security by knowing they are able to summon emergency assistance even when not in close proximity to the building’s standard emergency pull chords!

In addition to the standard pull chords, strategically located in each apartment, residents connected to the BOSCH System are provided with a system transmitter to wear on their person. The transmitter has a medallion-like appearance equipped with a large push button for ease of use. The transmitter is waterproof so it is safe to use even when taking a shower.

Here's how it works.

Once a resident in need of assistance activates the transmitter their call immediately registers on the System Console on the front Reception Desk. No matter where they are the in building--hallway, elevator, staircase, dinning room, chapel, activity room, beauty salon, spa--the System has the capability of reporting their location and need for immediate assistance. It also supplies staff with the resident’s personal identifying information: name, age, emergency contact information and photograph.

This added security is available to Providence Place Residents for a small monthly fee.