Murfreesboro Post
MURFREESBORO WEATHER

A big day at the VA




Auxiliary members and VA employees pose with the newly donated rocking chairs. From left are Danielle Hester, Marianne Myers, Sue Cantrell, Charlotte Conners, Suzanne Jené, Melinda Hackney, Brenda Hice and Ronjie Tocholke. CAT MURPHY

Auxiliary members and VA employees pose with the newly donated rocking chairs. From left are Danielle Hester, Marianne Myers, Sue Cantrell, Charlotte Conners, Suzanne Jené, Melinda Hackney, Brenda Hice and Ronjie Tocholke. CAT MURPHY

Friday was a full day at Alvin C. York Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Friday was a full day at Alvin C. York Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

That morning members of the American Legion Auxiliary presented five rocking chairs to the VA, one representing each branch of the U.S. Armed Forces.

“My dad was a WWII veteran. He and his six brothers were in the service at the same time,” said Chapter President Brenda Hice.

Each president chooses a special project to complete during his or her tenure. Hice chose donating a set of five rocking chairs to each Tennessee veterans’ hospital, in honor of her father’s sacrifice. While her none of her uncles sustained physical injuries, her father lost a leg during his service and received treatment at the Nashville VA for several years.

“This is an honor. I am so excited,” said Suzanne Jen, deputy health system director. “They’re going to be used in our community living center.”

Later that day members of Team Fastrax, a professional parachute demonstration team, jumped from a small plane and parachuted to the ground in the hospital’s courtyard for the crowd.

Lekan Olurode and his three children Precious, 6, Praise, 8, and Prince, 11, watch parachuters drift down from the sky. CAT MURPHY

Lekan Olurode and his three children Precious, 6, Praise, 8, and Prince, 11, watch parachuters drift down from the sky. CAT MURPHY

“Last year we performed 280 shows,” said team member and emcee Samuel Deeds. One of those shows was performed in Normandy, France, on the anniversary of D-Day.

Deeds, a Purple Heart recipient, has too much shrapnel in his body to parachute these days, but he remembers what it feels like when the chute releases. “You’re free. It’s just you.”

After parachuting from the aircraft to the hospital, unfurling an American flag as he drifted, Fastrax team member Dan Paganini agrees. “I get to just go have a big time. Living the dream.”

For Lance Southworth, this wasn’t just another jump — it was the first time he’s parachuted here at home, in Rutherford County.

“It was very inspiring,” said Southworth. Arranging a demonstration for veterans at the Murfreesboro hospital was his idea.

“We wanted to bring the joy back,” he said. “We really wanted to pull this off.”

Lance Southworth lands with the Purple Heart flag unfurled at Alvin C. York Veterans Affairs Medical Center. CAT MURPHY

Lance Southworth lands with the Purple Heart flag unfurled at Alvin C. York Veterans Affairs Medical Center. CAT MURPHY

Dan Paganini lands with the American Flag unfurled at Alvin C. York Veterans Affairs Medical Center. CAT MURPHY

Dan Paganini lands with the American Flag unfurled at Alvin C. York Veterans Affairs Medical Center. CAT MURPHY

Dan Paganini lands with the American Flag unfurled at Alvin C. York Veterans Affairs Medical Center. CAT MURPHY

Dan Paganini lands with the American Flag unfurled at Alvin C. York Veterans Affairs Medical Center. CAT MURPHY

An autographed photo from Team Fastrax will be framed and displayed at the medical center. CAT MURPHY

An autographed photo from Team Fastrax will be framed and displayed at the medical center. CAT MURPHY

 

 

Samuel Deeds of Team Fastrax grins as he brings in a newly donated rocking chair from the American Legion Auxiliary. CAT MURPHY

Samuel Deeds of Team Fastrax grins as he brings in a newly donated rocking chair from the American Legion Auxiliary. CAT MURPHY

Dan Paganini of f Team Fastrax carries a newly donated rocking chair from the American Legion Auxiliary up the stairs. CAT MURPHY

Dan Paganini of f Team Fastrax carries a newly donated rocking chair from the American Legion Auxiliary up the stairs. CAT MURPHY

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