Vets Gazette - August 2013 - STATES

The
Vets Gazette
August 2013
Department of Human Services
“Serving Rhode Island Veterans Since 1890”
“Presented by the Vets for the Vets”
Bristol, R.I.
Quote
How far you go in life depends on your
being tender with the young,
compassionate with the aged,
sympathetic with the striving, and
tolerant of the weak and strong, because
someday in your life you will have been
all of these.
- George Burns –
Contents
Page 1 Resident Council
Page 1 Remembrance
Page 2 Welcome
Page 6 An American Combat Hero
Page 11 What's For Dinner?
Page 12 Heard In The Corridors
Page 15 Question Of The Month
Page 16 Could Write A Book
Page 19 Special Events
480 Metacom Avenue, Bristol, R.I. 02809

RIVH Resident’s Council Meetings
Resident Council Meetings are held on the
second Friday of the month
at 1:30 in the RI Room.
September Meeting; Nomination for the New Resident Council Board
President
Vice President
Sergeant in Arms
October Meeting; ELECTION for the new Resident Council Board
November Meeting; The Swearing in of the new Resident Council Board
All resident s are invited and encouraged to attend.
President: Leo Fuchs
Vice President: Howard Lamont
Sergeant in Arms: Jim Boylan
David Rogers
Age 81
Passed July 27 th
Served US Army
During Korean
William Jones
Age 82
Passed July 13 th
Served US Navy
During Korean / Vietnam
John Small
Age 88
Passed August 18th
Served Us Air Force
During WWII
Joseph Kowalczyk
Age 83
Passed July 30th
Served US Army
During Korean
William Freeborn
Age 86
Passed August 11 th
Served US Navy
During Korean
Charles Andoscia
Age 85
Passed August 6th
Served US Army
During Korean
Alfred Copeland
Age 94
Passed August 12 th
Served US Army
During WWII
1

Welcome New Residents
July 2013
Joseph Quintel
US Navy/ WWII
Kevin Galligan
US Navy / Vietnam
Lawrence Voyer
US Marine Corps / Korea
Kenneth Andrew
US Marine Corp/ WWII
August 2013
Eskil Lindl
US Navy/ WWII
Michael Brennan
US Army/ Vietnam
Robert Barry
US Army/ Korea
Nancy LePage
US Air Force / Vietnam
THE GUN AND THE MAN THAT SAVED
BUNKER HILL
During the period of pre-revolution, a young man named Ben Brown ran a bookstore on the
outskirts of Boston. He took and interest in cannons and polled eastern and western nations as
to their capabilities of acquiring cannon fire. Because he pushed these different nations for
information on cannons fire, he then became known as an authority on cannons and cannon
fire.
At this time Washington had arrived in Boston to command the forces. The rebel faction
clearly demonstrated the knowledge of how they could beat the British. On the top of Bunker
Hill, they had stationed riflemen whose job it was to knock out the British. Brown saw that
they had no cannon but remembered the British had left a cannon in an abandoned fort.
Brown said to General Washington, "We will a have the cannon ready when you are." Twenty
men then sailed up to Fort Ticonderoga. The men began the arduous task of getting the
cannon from the fort to the top of Bunker Hill. When the cannon opened fire, the British,
rather than lose any ships, abandoned the fields below. This was the first outright victory by
the rebels. The cannon forced the British to evacuate Boston and leave the field to the rebels.
General Washington won and saved Boston.
Ultimately Ben established a casting machine to make cannons and bullets.
2
Ed Hanrahan

EVERYONE LOVES RAYMOND
I GRILLED HIM AND HE CAME UP WITH A BANQUET
Raymond Sienko was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut 78 years
ago, and in recent years moved to Newport. During the Berlin
crisis, he was called up from the Army Reserves. He was sent
to Fort Bragg, North Carolina and became a sergeant assigned
as mess steward in charge of meals for 200 men. In between
meals Ray played the organ for his battalion. He spent ten years
in the US Army during the Berlin crisis.
The facilities available to Ray and his associates were barracks
used to hold prisoners during WWII. The cooking equipment
included coal stoves. In spite of the limitations caused by the
outmoded cooking appliances, the food was basic and good.
Pizza was not yet as popular as it is today, and this was not on
the menu.
When military duty ended, Ray went back to Newton, CT tor work as a cook at Raymond's,
the family restaurant. He left this venue to seek something different and spent six years
managing a department store section of jewelry, greeting cards and stationery items.
Ray then went into food catering for three and a half years, serving as many as 250 people on
some occasions. His last venture before coming to the RI Veterans Home was running the
kitchen for seven years at Sisters of the Holy Family. This operation provided meals for 65
Sisters during the week and as many as 250 meals on weekends. The food was prepared by
Polish workers for polish sisters and Polish guests. The kitchen crew was Polish, too.
Examples of the food served were pierogi, kielbasa, stuffed cabbage and borscht, and if that
ain't Polish, what is? Ray produced Polish meals for 2500 people at lawn festivals. The meals
involved sour cream and dill amongst other things, but never, let me repeat that, never did they
use garlic.
At one point in his experience, Ray owned and operated a florist shop, and during another
time, he was an assistant kitchen manager of an assisted living home for sixty people.
Currently Donna O'Donnell (Activities) has this to say, "Raymond is a delight to have in
activities. He answers phone calls and when not doing so joins in card games with other
residents."
But can he cook? He sure can. With a capital C!
Al Benharris
3

IT DOES EVERYTHING BUT FLY
The Veterans Home - a simple little operation you say, eh? Sure – some medical, a kitchen,
cleaners and what else – ah yes, our beloved activities. But that's not at all accurate. More
precisely, the Veterans Home operation is made up of:
Infection Control
Credit Union
Labor Department
Maintenance
Drivers
Painters
Stockroom
Medical Equipment
Laboratory Service
Business Office
Telephone Operators
Staffing Services
Ward Secretaries
X-ray Department
Computer Support
Pharmacy
Security
Medical Records
PT/OT
Dental Services
Barbershop
Administrators
Sanitary Department
Social Services
Activities
Volunteers!!
We are being provided with a large well-trained care and medical ensemble. There is more - no
resident is left behind!!!
And all this is functioning in a collage labeled a Veterans Home, constituted of patient quarters as
well as many rooms unknown to the majority of residents stocked with equipment and records kept
in above ground catacombs. The building itself is a marvel. Due to its shape, General Baccus refers
to it as a starship. Sure he does. He's admittedly a Trekkie.
Al Benharris
SOUNDS OF SIMCHA
The word simcha means happiness, enjoyment. Every Wednesday at 1:30 downstairs in our library,
Stanley Freedman, the leader of the Sounds of Simcha band, along with pianist Anthony Pisano, join
our own Harris Ullian in practicing and preparing for presentation of the music of "Harris and the
Boyz."
Stanley provides music for religious and commercial groups. A graduate of Brown University, he
has studied saxophone, guitar, and it all started when he sat down and shared the piano with his piano
teacher mother.
Stanley has done everything that he wanted to do in the musical field. He taught music and created a
small band at Hope High School from 1965-1990. One of his students sang with Burt Bachrach and
he played for three years at an assisted living facility.
Anthony Pisano, Freedman's co-band member is a Providence College graduate. He was a teacher
and a former principal of North Providence High School. He was discouraged by his father, a pianist
himself, to play the piano, but he persisted and is still going strong. His father had been the top
pianist with the band at the Warwick Tent, playing for the world's top show people.
Stanley is always there offering his music. He also offers his religious knowledge
which is very gratefully accepted.
4

What a Wonderful Performance we had on July 25 th
by our very own
Humming Strumming Vets
Who knew we had all this hidden talent here at the RIVH?
5

Amputee First to Pass Rigorous Course
Sgt. 1 st Class Greg Robinson has become the first amputee to complete Army air assault school, a
course so grueling his prosthetic leg broke twice over the 10 days spent rappelling down ropes,
navigating obstacle courses and completing long road marches.
Each year thousands of soldiers are physically and mentally tested to their limits at the Fort
Campbell School. Instructors said Robinson accomplished everything other participants did and
trainers cut him no slack even though he lost part of his right leg in a 2006 deployment to
Afghanistan.
When he joined his teammates at a brief graduation ceremony Monday at the Sabalauski Air
Assault School, it was a testament to what can be achieved by amputees. War wounds from Iraq
and Afghanistan and the recent bombing at the Boston Marathon have highlighted the challenges
that amputee patients face to recover.
An inspiration to the bombing victims? Robinson a 34-year-old noncommissioned officer from
Elizabethtown, Ill., said his attitude was one of just wanting to complete the same program he
sends soldiers to who are under his command.
“Right now, I am a platoon sergeant,” Robinson told reporters after graduating. “I have roughly 30
men in my platoon. As a leader, I didn’t want to tell my soldiers that they needed to go to air
assault school, if I am not air assault qualified.”
He even toughed out Monday’s 12-mile road march even after he had to repair his leg during the
march. Earlier, he learned to rappel from a 34-foot tower and pushed through the strenuous
obstacle course.
Robinson was wounded in an attack during a major military operation in 2006. Robinson said his
traumatic injury wasn’t going to prevent him from meeting some of the Army’s toughest
standards.
The 101 st Airborne Division, unlike other airborne units that use planes, uses helicopters to
quickly drop troops into combat and move equipment around the battlefield.
By Kristin M. Hall
Associated Press
Submitted by Dan Ernst; Presented to Pay Tribute to a Courageous, Persevering Brother.
6

Everyone Had A Great Time On The
Outing To
East Greenwich / Post 15
7

CREATIVE CORNER
The Vet’s Gazette is looking for writers, short stories, poems, artwork and photos.
You can submit your work to Pam or Alysa in activities or to the suggestion
box opposite the chapel.
Please be sure to include your name so we can give you credit for your great creations.
Artwork by Jim Keyes
Bird Bath
While sitting out in my yard I watch all the many different kind, shape, color of birds, with their free and easy
lifestyle. I have many bird feeders, enjoy learning from them. This one fine day I was really watching a bird
taking his bath. I thought how wonderful, he is not concerned with what he is going to wear, who he feels he has
to impress, where he has to go, who he may meet, or what the schedule of the day is "supposed to be". He was just
enjoying the moment and his bath. He was not in any hurry and picked every feather clean.
I realized I wanted to "enjoy my bath".
I close my eyes, look at my feet, where my feet are, get my head! Out of the yesterdays, out of the tomorrows, just
do today, today! and enjoy the bath~
When all else fails, just BREATHE!
Debbie Lawrence, RN
I'M A LUCKY GUY
We will be starting a new section. We believe that there are some (maybe many) who feel very fortunate, one way
or another, about their life. Tell us about your good luck. Submit written details as well as your name and room
number in the suggestion box across from the chapel. Or give them to Al Benharris, unit 5 room 5-5A.
8

HARRIS AND THE BOYZ
Harris and the Boyz, a local musical quintet that includes residents Harris Ullian and Gary
Pelletier, performed in the North Dining Room of the Rhode Island Veterans Home on
July 31, 2013. The group played "Tennessee Waltz," "New York New York," "Hello Dolly,"
"Imagination," "God Bless America," and other popular songs.
Sue Perreira, an Activities worker, danced with residents Lewis Wagoner and Angelo Mascena.
While the Quintet was performing, the staff served strawberry shortcake and beverages to
everyone.
Jim Boylan
CLEANLINESS IS A MUST
Walking down the hall, I noticed two cleaning department workers sprawled on the floor, arms
stretched as far as they could reach moving their tools back and forth, cleaning behind the radiator.
I am aware that proper cleaning requires extra effort, but this appeared to be above and beyond the
requirements. So we investigated.
You can eat off the floor (but don't). A staff of approximately 25, provided by Healthcare
Services, a private company, are those who labor to keep us cleanly comfortable. I spoke with
Tania Fermin as to the specific functions required to maintain high sanitation standards.
Tania has worked here for five years. The department monitors are Luce Costa and Kayla Moniz.
Each worker is required to contribute a solid five hour work period with a fifteen minute break.
Every nook and cranny is overseen and attended to on a scheduled routine. Furniture and clutter
are moved, the area cleaned, and all items returned to where they came from. Some items prove
difficult to move. At night there are two men here, polishing floors and are available for
emergencies.
Tania is the designated trainer for newcomers to the Vet's Home group. She has two daughters,
one of whom worked here but moved to Massachusetts and is now an assistant manager at the
Milford Hotel. Tania's mother and a brother live in Providence. Her father lived in the United
States for fifteen years before returning to the Dominican Republic. Before coming to work at the
Veterans Home, Tania operated a fork lift for Ocean State Job Lot.
Al Benharris
9

It was a perfect evening to enjoy
the beautiful music of the East
bay Summer Wind Ensemble.
10

WHAT'S FOR DINNER?
"AN ARMY MOVES ON IT'S STOMACH"
SO DOES THE NAVY AND
THE VETERANS HOME
The above quote is attributed to the renowned French military leader
Napoleon Bonaparte. Let's apply that thinking to our own lives as
United States Military Service Veterans at the Rhode Island Veterans
Home.Is the food here bad? Absolutely not. The food served to us is
good. Is it great? No, but with a moderate amount of enthusiasm and
effort, it could become great. In no way is this to say that the kitchen
staff doesn't already work their butts off to please us. To finish
Napoleon's quote, "There is no substitute like a good meal to bring
about good morale." Thus said,
where could these stomach enhancing moves be accomplished.
Suggestion:
More Omelets – there has to be an omelet making machine available
A Recipe File – with 5 different chefs, you have 5 versionsof the same dish.
One of those is the most desirable.
Use it. Put it on a recipe card.
An ultraviolet heat lamp setup should front the serving table thus keeping plates warm until
served. There are often complaints of cold dinners.
Do your best to cook what is on the menu. We look forward to certain meals. When it isn't
served, it is demoralizing i.e. disappointing and discouraging.
Al Benharris
11

HEARD IN THE CORRIDOR
Lexophiles – a play on words
In a democracy it's your vote that counts; in feudalism it's the count that votes.
If you don't pay your exorcist, you can be repossessed.
A calendar's days are numbered.
Santa's helpers are subordinate clauses.
Acupuncture – a jab well done.
Marathon runners with bad shoes suffer the agony of de feet.
She was only a whiskey maker but he loved her still.
I thought I saw an eye doctor on an Alaskan Island but it turned out to be an optical Aleutian.
No matter how much you push the envelope, it will still be stationery.
A dog gave birth to puppies near the road and was cited for littering.
Wisdoms – 16 year olds answer questions
Question: Name a major disease associated with cigarettes.
Answer: Premature death
Question: what's the name of the most known birth control product?
Answer: Condominium
More Wisdoms
Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not using it in a fruit salad.
My wife has a slight impediment in her speech. Every now and then she stops to breather.
– Jimmy Durante –
Only Irish coffee provides in a single cup all four essential food groups – alcohol, caffeine, sugar,
and fat. –Alex Levine –
What to expect when you get to your 70's: you can live without sex but not your glasses.
Staff
12

Mark your calendars for September 15th
Traffic News
In order to protect our safety, every wheelchair should have a flag attached to it. The reason being,
if someone is backing out of a parking spot it is difficult to see residents in wheelchairs that do not
have a flag, and a car could potentially hit a resident. It is important to protect our safety, and flags
would increase our safety.
The pavilion is looking much cleaner now after recent changes. The “no parking” markers are very
well marked, and people have stopped parking their cars where they are not allowed, which is very
wonderful to see. Furthermore, the housekeeping staff is doing a great job keeping the building
very clean, which is also a positive thing to see.
Unfortunately, speeding and the running of stop signs is still a regular occurrence. The ambulance
area also needs to be more clearly marked with “no parking” signs to prevent accident.
J.J.D.
Have you seen this
on the RIVH
grounds?
13

Colt
State
Park in
July
14

QUESTION OF THE MONTH
Recent legal decisions have brought about a questioning of the fairness of our
legal system. What are your thoughts concerning this?
Resident – Bubba Quade: The recent Florida Decision concerning the shooting of a young boy is
a bad decision. If a man fires a gun once, he's capable of doing it again.
Food Server – Mike Haskell: The laws relative to this type of situation should be altered. The
decision should not have been based solely on innocent or guilty. It should have been on
something between those two. Look into and modify the law.
Kitchen Staff – Kathy Noonan: I honestly don't know what judgment I might have made in this
situation.
Resident – Harold Kitchin: Our laws worked. They were far better than no laws. Until
something better is created, it's proper and intelligent to accept what we have resolved in the past.
Resident – Tom Lombardi: I'm not Republican although I am conservative. In the Zimmerman
case I can understand his suspicion, but he acted too quickly. Also America must use whatever
reasonable means to deter terrorism.
Training Nurse Instructor – Jennifer Strollo: The police laws should be strengthened and then
enforced. Then unannounced check-ups should take place.
CWT Phone Co working on RIVH system – Mike Chase: As a US citizen, Congress and the
President seem to be taking away our rights in the name of Homeland Security. Some changes are
necessary in view of the current worldwide terrorism. They need to be better.
Doctor Joseph Zibreda: How much time do I have?
CNA – Don Harpin: At first it looks like we are losing our rights, but the world has changed so
dramatically since 9/11. New measures were put in to protect our citizens. I believe we as
Americans can adjust. Remember, other countries are far worse off than ours. The laws haven't
kept up with technology.
Volunteer – Ryan Edge: Yes, the government investigations in view of world chaos are necessary.
Make necessary changes and do it properly.
15

IT'S MY BELIEF EVERYONE'S LIFE IS FULL OF REMARKABLE EXPERIENCES AND THAT
EVERYONE COULD WRITE AN INTERESTING BOOK SO....I'M WRITING A BOOK
As I said last month, if you are granted enough years of existence, you get to witness "live" many celebrated
personalities. In the basketball world, I was blessed to see Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Michael Jordan, plus Joe
Mullaney, and Bob Cousy, who played together at Holy Cross College. Elgin Baylor of the LA Lakers, scored 61
points in a championship playoff game the night I saw him (a record that lasted many years until Michael Jordan scored
63 in playoffs but his was in overtime).
I was there in the RI Auditorium when Rocky Marciano knocked out Johnny Shkor, a 6 foot plus giant. Marciano had
to punch upward to connect with his opponent's chin.
In theater I was in the RI auditorium that was presenting a popular growing comedy team, Jerry Lewis and Dean
Martin. And in 1941 at the Metropolitan Theatre (now long gone) on the corner of Empire and Weybosset streets in
Providence, I enjoyed the presentation of an up and coming skinny kid named Frank Sinatra.
I can still hear and see the tinkling piano of Barry Manilow's appearance that I attended, and I danced at Rhodes, the
Totem Pole in Boston, and the Narragansett Casino while listening to the big bands - Glen Miller, Kay Kaiser (College
of Musical Knowledge), Vaughn Monroe, Harry James, Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey, Artie Shaw, Gene Krupa, Buddy
Rich, Russ Morgan, Vincent Lopez, Charlie Spivak, and many more. Miller played alongside Benny Goodman in an
early band. One of their singers was a young crooner named Bing Crosby. Many a night their soft sweet music
provided me with an opportunity to kiss my charming date.
On Tuesday, January 22, 2013, I participated in a small gathering, which I left believing an event had transpired here at
the Veterans Home that, at that moment, could not be equaled. Ed Hanrahan in his earlier days had met Babe Ruth.
Mike Duffy had attended Babe Ruth's funeral and Al Benharris had seen the Bambino play in two Major League
Baseball games. For you unknowing youngsters, Babe Ruth is considered one of history's all-time greatest and most
colorful athletes. His career ended in 1949 and here 63 years later sat three beings that had the good fortune to at least
indirectly relate to him.
In the early 1950's as an investment counselor, I discovered a company that was making a special steel. I had, since the
time I was a youngster, visualized the ultimacy of space travel. I knew any space capsule would require special body
fabrications. Jessop Steel was developing a unique firmament that might be useful in the future.
I reviewed the company's financial position and determined to suggest my clients purchase shares. My presentation
contained the premise that Jessop's product could be a revolutionary benefit in developing a space program. When I
mentioned this futuristic foresight, I was met with considerable guffaws and snickers, and "Are you kidding, space
travel?
Since my recognition of the future's products manufactured by many corporations, their output has enabled us to reach
the moon and beyond. Even I could not foresee the reach into space that we achieved. No, I was not kidding when I
spoke of traveling far above and away from earth.
On February 28, 1945 my ship went from the Caribbean Sea to the Pacific Ocean through the Panama Canal. It
brought a feeling of closeness to history as you witnessed the water flow into or out of a lock, raising or lowering a
ship. How memorable was that day! I can, to this day - 68 years later, tell you that I cooked pork chops for my crew's
dinner. I prepared something that took little time so that I could go above deck and witness our unforgettable passage.
After passing through the locks, we went on liberty in the city of Balboa. We were warned to travel in groups and
avoid any disagreements with the generally short in height but not-to-be-messed-with tough police. Incidentally, when
you exit the western end of the canal, you are at a high land area, and you see a long wide stretch of the Pacific water.
Contrasted to the one wave after another Atlantic, each wave of the Pacific sprawls out for miles on either side of you.
Prior to 1914 when the canal was completed, passage from the Atlantic to the Pacific was
16

practically impossible. Practically impossible, I say unless ( and this, rarely) you went many miles to the southern tip
of South America. To the north above Canada has always been impossible because it's iced over. In the past couple of
years that crossing has been accomplished due to global warming and the ice melting.
Within a couple of days after the end of World War II, I was in New York City. I decided to attend a famous night club
Leon and Eddie's. I sat at the bar (in uniform). A gentleman came over and introduced himself. He was one of the
club owners. I can't recollect whether it was Leon or Eddie. He offered me a drink and I accepted. We chatted a few
minutes and he left when the show came on.
The particular details of the show evade me, probably because at one point during the performance, it was interrupted
to bring out a soldier who, that day, had arrived from Europe aboard a transport ship. He was the famous comedian
Red Buttons. Although primarily known for his wit, you might remember Buttons as the soldier in the renowned war
movie The Longest Day who, during a parachute drop in Europe, was caught by his chute and dangled from a church
clock.
Red had imbibed a considerable number of alcoholic beverages and wasn't the least bit remiss about telling the club
patrons how little they contributed to the war effort. A seasoned military police officer attempted to pull Red off the
stage. The officer had many years of service and the arm of his uniform was covered with a considerable number of
service stripes. Red's language was really rough, and when the MP touched him, he responded, calling the officer a
zebra (all the stripes). I'll never forget what took place because that was the night I gave up what Navy life had taught
me - drinking too many alcoholic beverages.
Al Benharris
THEY LIKE ME
It's most natural when you are part of a large group, and you need assistance, and that aid is gently and sensitively and
passionately provided, for one to feel that the provider likes you and is treating you special. He or she, you think, is
showing you a particular quality of care attitude. Not so, at least not so, at the Rhode Island Veterans Home.
Special care attitude is the order of the day, everyday. That's one of the reasons 480 Metacom Avenue, the Rhode
Island Veterans Home, is now better known as the Miracle on Metacom.
Those involved in the health care venture throughout our society are most often people of heart, people caring about
people. The Veterans Home is just a touch different. The men and women being treated and cared for are people who
in the past exposed their lives, many severely and frequently, to danger in order to protect the American way of life.
So yes, I correct myself, not because they like you (which they do), but because you are the protector of the United
States, because you are an American veteran and you deserve extra respect and attention and liking!
The American Band
17

GOD GAVE ME MY SMILE
So says CNA Gery Ayele, who was born in Eritrea, East Africa. The language spoken in Eritrea is Tigrigna. Gery
goes to school to improve his English. He came to RI under the refugee program in 2010. We asked, "How did you
come to the decision to seek a home in the United States." His response, "God directed me." Assistance came from the
National Refugee Institution.
In Eritrea Gery had eleven years of education. In some countries you pay for your education. This was the case in
Eritrea. Prior to coming to America, he had worked as a medical assistant in various places. Gery is employed by the
pool and has been a CNA for six months. Still in Eritrea are his mother an five brothers and sisters.
If a smile were your umbrella on a rainy day, Gery's smile would cover New York City; no, make that New York State.
The first time I encountered his smile (I was awakening), he made the room so bright, I thought somebody had turned
the light switch on. I couldn't be my miserable morning self.
Bells rang, mirrors cracked, so help me, I heard beautiful chimes
(that hasn't happened since I last spoke with a sweet and charming lassie) Gery leaves you with the impression of a
remarkable, beautiful smile. Enjoy this lad with me. He's what it's all about. Keep on smiling, Gery!
Al Benharris
CITIZEN MATTHEW DAYUGAR
You start an interview, and you end up getting an education. Interviewing CNA Matthew Dayugar has taught me so
much about America's wonderfully and compassionate immigration system.
This May, before a large audience, Matthew Dayugar was accepted as a scholarship student at RI College of Education.
He was born in Liberia, West Africa. Matt came to the United States in the year 2000 after three years of education in
his native country where he studied Business Management. His entire thirteen years since arriving here have been
spent in Rhode Island.
To be accepted in this country required designated papers and a declaration that you would be available for work.
Matthew's journey here was sponsored by his mother, a participant in an adult literary program, who had make the
transition fourteen years earlier.
Matt's aunt had been the force behind his mother's move to this country. In each case a big part of the motivation was
to get away from a strife torn environment. Civil eruption had long been a part of Liberian history. Once here, while
participating in training programs, you carry a green card. The next step is citizenship with the learning involved
provided by an outreach program.
Matthew's previous education had given him the ability to speak articulately. He has spoken at the State House and at
school symposiums. His lectures have to do with the economics and history of Liberia. Matt does not use notes. He is
well-acquainted with his native country's history. In Liberia, whatever education you receive, you pay for. His
personal desire is to obtain a totally well-rounded education.
Matthew has two sons and a daughter. The boys are in school and the daughter is in training to become a CNA. He
has been at the Veterans Home eight years. He appreciates the bureaucratic system, has great respect for the RIVH and
the opportunities it offers workers. He respects the veterans whom he feels have done so much for their country. Matt
is a very appreciative gentleman citizen.
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Coming Events Summer 2013
Wednesday, September 11 th
Thursday, September 12 th
Friday, September 13 th
Sunday, September 15 th
Thursday, September 26 th
Sunday, September 22 nd
Saturday, October 5 th
Friday, October 18 th
Rosh Hashanah Service
RIVH Cookout
Pizza & Card Party
3rd Annual War Veterans Tribute
Cruise In
Car & Bike Show
Clam Boil Tiverton VFW
Autumn Begins
Outing to Bristol Elks
Pizza, Bingo & Card Night
Vet’s Gazette
Produced by:
Resident Advisor
Al Benharris
Jim Boylan
Dan Ernst
John Durkin
Ed Hanrahan
Howard Lamont
Michael Thomson
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