Rolling Thunder Presents HWR with Chair of Honor

The local chapter of Rolling Thunder, Inc. presented Hospice of the Western Reserve with a “Chair of Honor” during a ceremony at David Simpson Hospice House. Accepting the chair on behalf of HWR were President and CEO Bill Finn and Provider Relations Manager Nate Gradisher, who chairs our Peaceful & Proud Veterans Committee.

Rolling Thunder® is a nonprofit organization devoted to publicizing the POW-MIA issue. Members are committed to helping American veterans from all wars. According to the Department of Defense, there are about 81,600 Americans missing — from the battlefields of World War II to recent conflicts. There have been 725 Vietnam War POWs, 64 of whom have died, and 37 POWs since the Vietnam War.

“Rolling Thunder approached HWR to offer a Chair of Honor after seeing our work in the community with veteran patients and their families as well as the support provided by our veteran volunteers,” Nate said. “We are honored to have the chair on display as a symbolic way to remember Prisoners of War and all those who are still Missing in Action.”

The POW-MIA chair - located in the fireplace seating area in the Atrium at DSHH - will remain perpetually empty as a reminder that even though not all who served are here with us, there is still a space for them.