Marine Corporal Lee Iger receives a thank-you from Winchester Gardens Director of Recreation Carolyn Baldanza
Marine corporal Lee Iger sits at the end of a row of conference chairs, her ankles neatly crossed, hands folded in her lap. Lips painted immaculately in a 1940s red, Mrs. Iger also wears her original service uniform, a well-preserved outfit in traditional military green. A jaunty matching cap is perched on her head, and she listens intently as a vintage film of Kate Smith singing “God Bless America” plays on a large screen.
Born in West Orange in 1925, Mrs. Iger moved to Winchester Gardens – an elegant assisted-living community on Elmwood Avenue in Maplewood – nine years ago after her husband, a doctor, passed away.
At Winchester Gardens, special effort was made this year to honor the more than 50 veterans who call the assisted living facility home. After a 10 a.m. flag raising, veterans gathered in the parlor. A large screen at the front of the room displayed the names of veteran residents living and deceased. Names were called, and commemorative certificates and boutonnieres/corsages were pinned or fitted to servicemen and women in attendance.
Residents leaned over to thank each other for their time serving, and some wiped their eyes upon hearing their names called. Dr. Robert L. Moskowitz, known to his wife Bernice as Bob, is 85 and was born in Passaic, NJ. The two moved to Winchester Gardens a year ago, and are enjoying the lifestyle. A cardiologist who served in the Air Force as a general doctor, Dr. Moskowitz and Mrs. Moskowitz were stationed in Casablanca, Morocco for two years. “We liked the food, the people we met…” said Mrs. Moskowitz, mentioning that the couple was especially fond of the dish tagine. When asked what part of his service he was most proud of, Dr. Moskowitz had trouble getting the words out. He seemed to be saying he was glad to help fellow officers during peace-time, and not wartime, his wife clarified.
Philip Galeota
Carolyn Baldanza, Director of Recreation and Leisure for Independent Living at Winchester Gardens, pinned roses on gentlemen and lady veterans throughout the ceremony with a smile, a ‘thank you,” and a hug or affectionate squeeze of the shoulder. “This was a group effort between several departments here,” she said of the ceremony. “We felt we wanted the day to be special for our veteran residents – that they would feel appreciated and acknowledged.”
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