Waltonwood salutes vets, including 100-year-old who served in 3 wars
Dr. Robert J. Fisher, who celebrated his 100th birthday in April, served in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.
Of the estimated 65,000 surviving U.S. World War II veterans, few have served their country on a grander scale than 100-year-old Canton resident Dr. Robert J. Fisher.
A veteran of WWII, the Korean War and the Vietnam War, Dr. Fisher was one of close to 50 veterans who attended a Salute to Service Luncheon Nov. 10 at the Waltonwood Cherry Hill independent living, assisted living and memory care facility in Canton.
“If you don’t serve your country, what are you going to serve?” Dr. Fisher said, when asked about his motivation to serve in three wars.
Dr. Fisher served in the Marine Corps, the U.S. Army and the U.S. Navy, before attending medical school at the University of Michigan and serving as a general practitioner for several years out of Beyer Hospital in Ypsilanti.
Rare Vietnam War female Air Force officer in attendance
Joining Dr. Fisher at the luncheon was Canton resident Vanita Sink, who was one of approximately 150 non-nursing female Air Force officers when she enlisted in 1966.
Sink served in special operations for the Air Force, specializing in search and rescue missions out of bases in Thailand and northern Laos.
Sink said she was proud to serve on a team that helped officers who were in perilously dangerous situations.
“I’m grateful for events like this that honor veterans,” Sink said. “Especially being a female serving in a non-nursing position. I don’t think people realize how few non-nursing officers there were when I enlisted in 1966.”
What does Veterans Day mean to 93-year-0ld vet?
Joe Tyson, a 93-year-old Korean War veteran who served in the U.S. Air Force, said Veterans Day (which is officially observed annually on Nov. 11), means a lot to him.
“It’s a day when we can look back at the men and women who served this country with one thing in mind: protecting our country’s freedom and liberty and all it means to them.”
A 1950 graduate of Wyandotte Roosevelt High School, Tyson said he will spend Veterans Day at Club 55 in Canton, reminiscing with other veterans who reside in southeast Michigan.
Feel-good luncheon
Renee Ralsky, the marketing manager for Waltonwood Cherry Hill, said the facility organizes events throughout the year where veterans can congregate, mingle and share stories about their military history.
“This Veterans Day we decided to invite veterans who are residents and non-residents to our Salute to Service Luncheon,” Ralsky said. “We tried to seat residents with non-residents so they could get to know one another and share their experiences.”
Ralsky said Waltonwood will be collaborating with the Canton Veterans Affair Clinic (5900 N. Lotz) for a World Kindness Day celebration for veterans. The event will include the presence of a complimentary Cinnabon food truck from 11 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. The food truck will be at Optalis Health and Rehabilitation in Canton (7025 N. Lilley Road) from 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.
Waltonwood has also organized a pop-up Poinsettia pick-up 1 p.m. Thursday for World Kindness Day. To RSVP for this, call 734-981-7100.
Ed Wright can be reached at 734-664-4657 or edwright@socialhousenews.com.
