Memorial Day: A Personal Reflection

A message from President and CEO Steve Arner:

Today is Memorial Day, when we honor and remember the military personnel who have died serving our country. My family has a long history of military service, and this day is especially meaningful to me.

My father, grandmother, two grandfathers and my great uncle (pictured here) all served in the military. My great uncle felt so strongly about serving in World War II that he signed up for the Royal Air Force at age 17, before the United States had joined the war. After the United States joined the war, his squadron of Americans was moved to the U.S. Army Air Force and he eventually became a major general in the U.S. Air Force. I am inspired by his story, and I learned a lot about commitment and integrity from him.

I’m proud of the work we do with veterans here at Carilion, including the We Honor Veterans program and our Military Community Employee Resource Group, which is open to all employees. Our Hospice team in the New River Valley recently received recertification as a Level 5 partner—the top level—in the We Honor Veterans program.

Take a moment today to remember your loved ones who served, and all of those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation.

And if you are a current or former member of the military, I thank you for your service.

With much appreciation,

Steve