Local Family Inspires Veteran Memorial

On Veterans Day 2019, Hospice Care Plus will dedicate a Veterans Memorial Wall at our Compassionate Care Center.

The dedication will take place Monday, November 11, at 1:30 p.m. at the Hospice Care Plus Compassionate Care Center. The public is invited to attend.

The Veterans Memorial Wall was inspired by Richmond’s Bagby family. After their loss of Robert Bagby in 2011, his wife Kathy and the rest of the family felt moved to support Hospice Care Plus, who cared for him, and to honor Robert’s memory and military service. The Veterans Memorial Wall is the result.

“We’ve worked with Mrs. Bagby for a while to come up with a way to honor him, and to do it in a way that gives other veteran families, especially those whose loved ones are cared for by our Hospice at home or at our Center, an opportunity to memorialize their own veterans,” says Chasity Coleman, director of development at Hospice Care Plus. “The wall they’ve created does both and does it beautifully.”

Hospice and the Bagby family enlisted the support of Jackson County artist Ken Riley. Ken designed and hand-painted a large-scale American flag, which was framed and placed on the wall of the sun room at the Compassionate Care Center. Ken then hand-carved and painted five emblems representing each branch of the military. These are mounted in the sun room as well.

“We redecorated the room in patriotic colors, a star, and Mr. Riley’s flag and military emblems,” says Chasity. “Now, it’s clear as soon as you enter our Compassionate Care Center that our Hospice honors our veteran patients and all veterans in our community.”

Anyone who wants to memorialize a veteran may purchase a gold-plated name plate with room for 21 characters. The plates will be mounted on the flag’s stripes. The plates are available for a donation of $50. All funds raised go directly to support Hospice Care Plus programs, including our We Honor Veterans program, which are offered to all regardless of insurance status or ability to pay.

To learn more about the Veterans Memorial Wall or the dedication event, contact Chasity at 859-986-1500 or hospice@hospicecp.org.

Hospice Care Plus is a non-profit organization providing compassionate, expert hospice, palliative, and bereavement care in Estill, Jackson, Lee, Madison, Owsley, and Rockcastle counties. All services are offered regardless of insurance status or ability to pay.