March 12, 2020

Veteran Pinning Ceremony: Dale Hartman & Hubert Wilkinson

Winterset residents and long-time friends, Dale Hartman and Hubert "Hube" Wilkinson were posthumously honored on Monday, March 9 during a Veteran pinning ceremony hosted by EveryStep Hospice.

The ceremony, which took place at the Winterset VFW where both men were lifetime members, was attended by family members of Hartman and Wilkinson.

Hartman, who passed away in November, and Wilkinson, who passed on March 3, were both patients of EveryStep Hospice in Winterset.

Wilkinson served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War, while Hartman served as in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. Both men dedicated their lives to furthering the recognition of their fellow veterans and country.

For more than 40 years Wilkinson presented colors at the Girls' State Basketball Tournament. He was also known to attend countless parades, football games and other area events to present the country's colors. Dale also served in the color guard for the tournament for many years.

Both men also spent time honoring their fellow veterans by providing military funeral honors.

In fact, Hartman was one of the founding members of the Honor Guard, as he worked with fellow veterans to fulfill the wish of a comrade who asked for a local VFW to conduct a funeral for him when he died. At the time, Hartman and fellow service members acquired khaki shirts and guns, and with some practice, Honor Guard completed its first service in 1965.

EveryStep Hospice regularly hosts Veteran pinning ceremonies, providing honor, dignity and recognition to veterans at the end of their lives. Family members and friends are often on hand with EveryStep staff and volunteers during the celebratory events.  The ceremonies include the Pledge of Allegiance, a prayer of thanks, the awarding of a veteran service flag pin, the singing of “God Bless America,” a reading of "What is a Veteran," and the presentation of a certificate of recognition.

Are you interested in making a difference for EveryStep's veteran patients? Consider becoming a Veteran-to-Veteran volunteer.

Our Veteran-to-Veteran Program is a special service pairing Veterans who are volunteers with hospice patients who have served our country. A specialized Veteran-to-Veteran volunteer can provide companionship while talking, reading and sitting with patients. There are some issues veterans only feel comfortable sharing with other veterans. Veterans bring a unique skill set to help patients come to terms with past events, finding peace at end of life.

EveryStep is proud to be recognized as a We Are Veterans Level 4 hospice provider. As a participating We Honor Veterans program, EveryStep Hospice “earned its stars” by providing Veteran-specific education to our staff and volunteers, building organizational capacity to provide quality care for Veterans, strengthening relationships with Veteran organizations, and improving access and quality of care for Veterans. 

Those interested in learning more about volunteering with EveryStep Hospice are encouraged to complete our volunteer interest form, and we’ll connect you with an EveryStep program that could use your time and talents!