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By Jim Carney
Beacon Journal staff writer
POSTED: 01:38 p.m. EST, Nov 09, 2009
SILVER LAKE: The World War II veteran had just been honored for his service, so he did what he learned to do long ago, when he first wore a uniform for his country.
Lying in a hospital bed in his home, Alexander Swartz saluted a fellow veteran who had pinned an award on his pajama top.
''Oh, beautiful,'' said his wife, Ann Swartz, as she witnessed the intimate ceremony in the family's home last week.
Swartz, 85, a Hospice of Summa patient who has Lewy body dementia, is one of more than 50 veterans who has received the special award in the past two years through a program with Hospice of Summa, VFW Charities of Ohio, the Hospice Veterans Partnership of Ohio and the Ohio Hospice and Palliative Care Organization.
A Cuyahoga Falls High School graduate, Alexander Swartz was drafted in June 1943 and served in the Army Air Corps as a radio man in the Burma-India-China theater. He flew on more than 50 missions during the war aboard a C-47.
Among his medals is the Distinguished Flying Cross.
The Swartzes have been married 66 years. They have one child, three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
He retired from Tramonte Distributing.
For the past three weeks, Swartz has been confined to a hospital bed in his home and has been a patient of Hospice of Summa, which provides special care for patients with terminal illnesses.
Hospice of Summa nurse Sharon Hoffman said Lewy body dementia, which usually strikes a younger age population, is a ''rapidly progressing dementia and is associated with movement problems such as tremors and falls.''
Vietnam veteran Pat Garrity, 66, of Hudson, an IBM retiree, presented Swartz with his award.
''We are all very happy to be here to thank you personally for your service to our country,'' Garrity said. ''We know the greatness of the United States is largely due to the patriots like yourself who defended us.''
Whenever and wherever the nation has called, said Garrity in the presentation to Swartz, ''in times of darkness and danger as well as in times of peace and prosperity, American veterans have been there. Veterans have proudly carried the torch of liberty for all to see.''
Summa Chaplain the Rev. Michael Shaub said the pinning ceremony is designed to let veterans know their service is appreciated.
''One of the most important things is people, as they become less and less able to do things [and] more and more confined to a room or a bed, they begin to experience a loss of meaning and purpose in their lives,'' Shaub said. ''This gives them that sense of satisfaction and accomplishment and remembers that what they've done over their lifetime has had a huge impact and that they are remembered and honored and their life has had a purpose.''
Along with family members, neighbors Bill and Linda White watched the ceremony.
''It's magnificent,'' said Bill White, 75, an Army veteran and FBI retiree.
Linda White said the emotional ceremony was ''wonderful.''
Ann Swartz said her husband rarely spoke of his war service.
She said she and Alexander grew up together ''a long time ago.''
Her husband is happy that his war service has been recognized.
''This is the end for him,'' she said. ''I think he is happy.''
Hospice of Summa is looking for veterans to conduct pinning ceremonies and other volunteers. Call 330-379-5100 for information about volunteering.
Jim Carney can be reached at 330-996-3576 or jcarney@thebeaconjournal.com.
SILVER LAKE: The World War II veteran had just been honored for his service, so he did what he learned to do long ago, when he first wore a uniform for his country.
Lying in a hospital bed in his home, Alexander Swartz saluted a fellow veteran who had pinned an award on his pajama top.
''Oh, beautiful,'' said his wife, Ann Swartz, as she witnessed the intimate ceremony in the family's home last week.
Swartz, 85, a Hospice of Summa patient who has Lewy body dementia, is one of more than 50 veterans who has received the special award in the past two years through a program with Hospice of Summa, VFW Charities of Ohio, the Hospice Veterans Partnership of Ohio and the Ohio Hospice and Palliative Care Organization.
A Cuyahoga Falls High School graduate, Alexander Swartz was drafted in June 1943 and served in the Army Air Corps as a radio man in the Burma-India-China theater. He flew on more than 50 missions during the war aboard a C-47.
Among his medals is the Distinguished Flying Cross.
The Swartzes have been married 66 years. They have one child, three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
He retired from Tramonte Distributing.
For the past three weeks, Swartz has been confined to a hospital bed in his home and has been a patient of Hospice of Summa, which provides special care for patients with terminal illnesses.
Hospice of Summa nurse Sharon Hoffman said Lewy body dementia, which usually strikes a younger age population, is a ''rapidly progressing dementia and is associated with movement problems such as tremors and falls.''
Vietnam veteran Pat Garrity, 66, of Hudson, an IBM retiree, presented Swartz with his award.
''We are all very happy to be here to thank you personally for your service to our country,'' Garrity said. ''We know the greatness of the United States is largely due to the patriots like yourself who defended us.''
Whenever and wherever the nation has called, said Garrity in the presentation to Swartz, ''in times of darkness and danger as well as in times of peace and prosperity, American veterans have been there. Veterans have proudly carried the torch of liberty for all to see.''
Summa Chaplain the Rev. Michael Shaub said the pinning ceremony is designed to let veterans know their service is appreciated.
''One of the most important things is people, as they become less and less able to do things [and] more and more confined to a room or a bed, they begin to experience a loss of meaning and purpose in their lives,'' Shaub said. ''This gives them that sense of satisfaction and accomplishment and remembers that what they've done over their lifetime has had a huge impact and that they are remembered and honored and their life has had a purpose.''
Along with family members, neighbors Bill and Linda White watched the ceremony.
''It's magnificent,'' said Bill White, 75, an Army veteran and FBI retiree.
Linda White said the emotional ceremony was ''wonderful.''
Ann Swartz said her husband rarely spoke of his war service.
She said she and Alexander grew up together ''a long time ago.''
Her husband is happy that his war service has been recognized.
''This is the end for him,'' she said. ''I think he is happy.''
Hospice of Summa is looking for veterans to conduct pinning ceremonies and other volunteers. Call 330-379-5100 for information about volunteering.
Jim Carney can be reached at 330-996-3576 or jcarney@thebeaconjournal.com.
Comments
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Silver Lake, Ohio
Posted 02:50 PM, 11/09/2009
Very sweet story!
Actually both stories..
how he was honored & the love story as well.
God bless them both~
Canton, OH
Posted 03:41 PM, 11/09/2009
God BLess Them!
Akron, OH
Posted 04:33 PM, 11/09/2009
Great to read this story. But did I miss something? What is the award called?
Akron, OH
Posted 09:28 PM, 11/09/2009
A great American!
If only ABJ would have named the award. Instead of just referring to it as "the special award".
I wish I was half the man he was.
Thank you, Sir!
:0)
Posted 08:54 AM, 11/10/2009
What a great idea! I'm sure it made his day! Thank you Mr. Swartz!
Lorain, oh
Posted 09:10 AM, 11/10/2009
Bravo!
Posted 09:34 AM, 11/10/2009
True American Hero!
Posted 05:37 PM, 11/10/2009
We are slowly losing what might be our greatest generation and Mr. Swartz is one of them. As they grew up during the Great Depression, served in our country's honor in WWII and then became part of our country's greatest growth, we owe them all a great debt.
Thank you Mr. Swartz and to all of out Veterans.
akron, oh
Posted 01:59 PM, 11/11/2009
American and proud of it because of you, and others, Thank you to all the veterans past and now for your ultimate sacrifice, all gave some and some gave all, GOD BLESS each one of you! and watch over our soldiers in action as we salute them.
akron, oh
Posted 02:27 PM, 11/11/2009
Thank you to all veterans past and now for your
ultimate sacrifice, all gave some, and some gave all, GOD BLESS each one of you! and watch over our soldiers in action as we salute them.
AMERICAN AND PROUD OF IT!
Stow, OH
Posted 06:47 PM, 11/11/2009
I'm so proud of you Uncle Alex! I love you! God Bless.
