Residents at Vecta House Care Home in Newport enjoyed a nostalgic and moving afternoon earlier this week as they welcomed local servicemen for a special visit centred on shared history and military service.
The event, organised in partnership with local charity Wight Forces, brought together veterans living at the home with active and former service members.
Several guests arrived in full uniform and brought with them a collection of medals, historical photographs and memorabilia to share with residents.
The afternoon saw a lively exchange of stories, with visiting servicemen speaking about their modern-day careers while residents reflected on their own time serving in the forces.
In one particularly poignant moment, a resident presented his original Royal Air Force jacket along with personal photo albums, prompting a moving conversation with the visiting servicemen about his experiences.
The visit was made possible by Wight Forces, a newly established charity on the Isle of Wight that supports serving personnel, veterans and their families. The organisation aims to provide assistance during the transition from military to civilian life and offers dedicated support for military children living on the Isle of Wight.
Tanya Everson, Lifestyle Leader at Vecta House, has said:
“It was a truly heart-warming afternoon for everyone involved.
“Seeing the pride in our residents’ faces as they shared their own service history was wonderful. We would like to extend a huge thank you to Wight Forces and specifically to Gary, Steve, David, Nick and Keith for their time and generosity. We very much look forward to working with this fantastic charity again in the future.”
Great event, Military servicemen and women should
never be forgotten, they get a raw deal in life.