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Theresa Anderson, Donna Stevens, Robert Hallock an

Tequesta Terrace Assisted Living is proud to announce the Palm Beach Patriotic Quilters (a chapter of the Quilts of Valor Foundation) as the 2019 recipients of the senior living community’s Good Neighbor Award. The award acknowledges the significant work of local organizations that give back to the greater community. The Palm Beach Patriotic Quilters were chosen for the award as a result of the group’s dedication to carrying forth the mission of the Quilts of Valor Foundation, which is to cover service members and veterans touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor. The group handcrafts and presents heirloom-quality quilts to local veterans as thanks for their service. The Palm Beach Patriotic Quilters will be awarded a $1,000 gift from Tequesta Terrace during a special ceremony held at the community on Friday, September 27 at 3:00 p.m. During the ceremony, veteran and resident Robert “Bob” Hallock will receive his own Quilt of Valor for his service during World War II. Hallock, 97, served in the Army Air Corps as a radio operator and a gunner. For his daughter, Doris Lynch, Hallock’s recognition by the Quilts of Valor Foundation is incredibly meaningful and is a fitting honor for her father.

“I’m happy to see my dad receive this recognition because he’s always doing something for others,” said Lynch. “Dad is a product of his generation and would never seek out any kind of recognition for himself, so it’ll be special to see him be honored. It’s wonderful to see organizations like the Quilts of Valor Foundation supporting our veterans and recognizing what they’ve done for our country. There was a time when that wasn’t always the case, and it’s heartening to know that all of our veterans are celebrated for their efforts.”

Such sentiments are echoed by Mary Jacobs, a veteran and resident of Tequesta Terrace who was also a recipient of a Quilt of Valor, and who sees providing this recognition to the Palm Beach Patriotic Quilters as the perfect way for the community to say thank you.

“After all of my years in the service, I have never received anything as beautiful as this quilt,” said Jacobs. “My quilt is absolutely wonderful, and I’m blessed to have such a thoughtful item to remind me of my service. I’m so thankful to everyone who participated in making it for me.”

The Quilts of Valor Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit charity organization dedicated to covering all service members and veterans wounded physically or psychologically with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor. The organization began in 2003 after the organization’s founder, Catherine Roberts (whose son Nat was deployed in Iraq), had a dream which led her to start an organization where volunteers could donate their time and materials to make a quilt. Supporting the organization and the Palm Beach Patriotic Quilters is incredibly meaningful to the senior living community, as several residents of Tequesta Terrace have been the recipients of these special quilts.

“At Tequesta Terrace, we are home to a number of veterans and are honored to have them call our community home,” said Patti Robillard-Hudak, executive director of Tequesta Terrace. “We’re thankful for local organizations like the Quilts of Valor Foundation - Palm Beach Patriotic Quilters and their dedication to serving the greater community. These incredible women selflessly give their time to ensure that our veterans feel comforted and supported, and it’s an honor to have the ability to give back and do something special for them. The Palm Beach Patriotic Quilters are a natural choice for the Good Neighbor Award, as they embody the spirit of being a good neighbor and work to guarantee that everyone in the greater community lives life to the fullest. We hope that with this recognition, others will also pay it forward and look for ways to be a good neighbor.”

According to Theresa Anderson, the founder and co-leader of the Palm Beach Patriotic Quilters, receiving this honor from Tequesta Terrace was an unexpected joy and a reminder that the group’s efforts are making a difference in the lives of local veterans. While group members work on their projects individually, they gather each month to work together and prepare the quilts.

“I was incredibly surprised when I found out we were being recognized in such a way,” said Anderson. “You never expect to receive attention for doing something that you love, and more importantly, it gives back to those who need it most. The majority of us are retired, so this is our way to give back and say thank you in a way that is meaningful and personal to us. I can’t even begin to describe the feeling when we present one of our quilts to a veteran and get to see their reaction. Quite simply, it makes you want to go home and start another immediately so you can do it all over again. Receiving a quilt may seem a simple thing, but this truly makes a difference in the lives of our nation’s veterans, and we’re proud to have the opportunity to show them our gratitude. We look forward to the opportunity to celebrate with Tequesta Terrace and visit with those past quilt recipients and be further encouraged in our mission.”

For those interested in nominating a current or former service member to receive a quilt, please visit www.qovf.org for more information. Additionally, if you would like to provide quilting materials or donations of any kind to the Palm Beach Patriotic Quilters, please drop them off at Tequesta Terrace anytime during business hours (9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.) and they will make sure they are received by the group. All fabric donations are accepted, and if the group is unable to use them to make the quilts of valor, they are either re-donated to other local quilting organizations or used by members in their other philanthropic efforts.

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One of the deepest and most powerful symbols of life and change is the butterfly, which are often released to signify important events or in remembrance of loved ones. With that idea in mind, the senior residents of Tequesta Terrace Assisted Living will celebrate life and love with family members and invited guests during a butterfly release celebration. The butterfly release event is a fundraising event for Trustbridge Hospice Foundation and will take place on May 2 at 5:00 p.m. at the senior living community (400 N US Highway 1). Tickets for the event will allow participants to select a butterfly that they can release in honor of a loved one. This sold out event is hosted by Tequesta Terrace Assisted Living.

“Trustbridge Hospice Foundation is truly grateful to Tequesta Terrace for hosting the butterfly release celebration and for acting as the benefactor for this fundraising event,” said Susan Smith, philanthropy specialist for Trustbridge Hospice Foundation. “Proceeds from this event will support the hospice programs that Trustbridge provides to the community at no cost. All of our services go above and beyond traditional hospice services and include: grief services for children and adults, camps for children, music therapy, pet therapy and extraordinary comfort measures. It is only because of the generosity of our community that Trustbridge Hospice Foundation can continue to provide exceptional care to families during their greatest time of need.”

The event represents beauty, serenity, peace and hope, and all financial donations will benefit Trustbridge’s Children’s Bereavement Camp, which helps to council children who have lost a parent or loved one. This special event is a time to come together as a community and celebrate those who have touched hearts and will never be forgotten.

“We look forward to contributing to a significant cause and hosting such a meaningful celebration with our residents and their families in honor of those we love,” said Shawn Gibbons, executive director of Tequesta Terrace Assisted Living. “It will be heartwarming to see the wonderment on the faces of those in attendance when the butterflies take flight. Nature is something that everyone can connect with, and by offering events such as this, we provide our residents the chance to connect with the world around them in an entirely new way.”

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Tequesta Terrace Assisted Living recently presented the Tequesta Friends of Public Safety with the senior living community’s Good Neighbor Award. The award acknowledges the significant work of local organizations that give back to the greater community. The Tequesta Friends of Public Safety was chosen for the award due to their dedication to supporting local first responders and their families for all that they do to keep those who call Tequesta home safe. The group supports first responders and their families in the event of a family or medical emergency. The Tequesta Friends of Public Safety was awarded a $1,000 gift from Tequesta Terrace during a special ceremony held at the senior living community. For Abby Brennan, mayor of Tequesta and Treasurer of The Tequesta Friends of Public Safety, this recognition from Tequesta Terrace was incredibly meaningful and important to the organization.

“Every day our first responders work to ensure the safety and well-being of our community, and we should all do the same by providing assistance for them when they find themselves in need,” said Brennan. “Through the support of our community, we ensure members of our police and fire departments have support. Whether it’s assistance with medical insurance or something more personal, we want to step up and take a weight off their shoulders. It was absolutely wonderful to receive this contribution from Tequesta Terrace, and we are incredibly grateful for their support of our first responders.”

The Tequesta Friends of Public Safety is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit charity organization dedicated to the aid, support and comfort of Village of Tequesta safety personnel in times of need. The organization was created to recognize Village of Tequesta Public safety personnel for their achievements, heroism and sacrifice. Support of the organization is incredibly meaningful for the senior living community, as Tequesta Terrace has not only received aid from local safety personnel, but also established relationships with the police and fire departments that benefit residents and strengthen the bonds of community.

“We’re thankful for everything the police and fire departments do for our residents here at Tequesta Terrace,” said Shawn Gibbons, executive director of Tequesta Terrace. “Over the years, we have built strong relationships with the men and women who serve the Tequesta Village community, and we were honored to have the opportunity to give back and do something special for them. The Tequesta Friends of Public Safety was a natural choice for us, as they embody the spirit of being a good neighbor and working to ensure that everyone in the greater community lives life to the fullest. We hope that with this recognition, others will also pay it forward and look for ways to be a good neighbor.” 

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Friendship is a unique bond strengthened by shared experiences and understanding. For the members of Tequesta Terrace Assisted Living’s veterans’ group it’s this special bond that has made the group’s monthly gatherings an outlet for continued growth and learning. Once a month on a Friday afternoon at 3:00 p.m., the group’s members come together at the senior living community (400 N US Highway 1) to discuss their day-to-day activities and stories of their time in the military, sharing how their unique experiences impacted their lives. For many of the group’s members, this is one of the few places they feel comfortable sharing their most personal memories, doing so only because the men gathered with them went through similar journeys. The group meets thanks to the dedication of local volunteer Michelle Andrews. Andrews was contacted by Tequesta Terrace to help found the group in hopes of providing an opportunity for resident veterans to connect with one another. During the group’s meetings, attendees hold open discussion on various topics they wish to learn more about in addition to sharing their own experiences.

“Helping to make this group possible has been incredibly impactful,” said Andrews. “It is powerful to witness how these men connect with one another. Many of the oldest veterans have never told their stories, believing they were simply doing their job and leaving it at that. However, it is truly special to provide an outlet for them to open up and share their personal memories and feelings from their service. It’s been a privilege to get to know each one of these men and hear a firsthand account of history. The meetings are always lively, with the occasional disagreement and plenty of laughter.”

The veterans’ group provides members with a sense of comradery, but for members like Ray Palleschi, it also offers opportunities to continue learning and gain a stronger understanding and appreciation for the wars he never experienced firsthand such as the Korean and Vietnam wars. A veteran of World War II, Palleschi enlisted in the Army Air Corp on October 19, 1942, when he was 18 years old. After receiving his initial training, he was stationed in Saipan, Mariana Island, where he served until being discharged on November 26, 1945. Palleschi was a member of the 873rd bombing group working with the communications division to communicate between the Mariana Islands. At the age of 94, Palleschi says that he can remember everything vividly, particularly how the enemy Japanese planes would strafe the air base and its barracks. He recalls laying in his cot once when the barracks were fired upon, and he felt incredibly lucky to have not been hit. While he escaped the attack, he did suffer an injury after jumping from the tent platform and breaking his ribs. He finds it easier to share these memories with others after first talking them through with the rest of the group.

“Having the opportunity to serve my country was a special time in my life, and having the ability to share my experiences with those who understand them has been wonderful,” said Palleschi. “In preparation for the meetings, I will research and assemble an interesting and relevant discussion topic for us discuss together. Doing this has allowed all of us to touch on various aspects of our service and the wars we served in with unique and personal perspectives. We all come from different backgrounds and military branches and it makes for something truly remarkable. For those like me who served during World War II, it’s more important now than ever to share our own stories and ensure that future generations learn from them. In some ways, this group helps us ensure our tales live on.”

With almost 30 veterans who call Tequesta Terrace home, the community understands the importance of recognizing its veterans and thanking them for their service. It’s for this reason the community will soon take the veterans group to the Tequesta Firefighters and Tequesta Brewing Company’s 8th Annual Chili Cook-Off and Beer Tasting event, where they will be recognized by the local community for their military service. During the event 60 veterans from World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan, along with wounded warriors and Gold Star families will be honored. This community-wide event will take place on Saturday, November 10th from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Paradise Park, located at One Main Street in Tequesta. All proceeds from the event go to veterans and public safety charities, including Honor Flight, Operation 300, Tequesta Friends of Public Safety and the Renewal Coalition. For Station 85 Lieutenant David McGovern, honoring the veterans from Tequesta Terrace is particularly meaningful as the station has a close relationship with Tequesta Terrace and the veterans at the senior living community.

“It’s our honor to celebrate the men and women who have served in the military,” said McGovern. “Each year we’ve had the opportunity to recognize these incredible individuals and are proud to do so as a community. Over the years, Tequesta Terrace has been a wonderful partner for the event, and an even better neighbor. This year we will be honoring our local veterans, and we hope everyone can come out to join us as we pay tribute to those who made all of this possible.”

“We’re looking forward to the opportunity to celebrate our veteran residents and share a very special group of men with the greater community,” said Shawn Gibbons, executive director of Tequesta Terrace. “Veterans Day is a powerful reminder for all of us that our freedom comes at a cost, and it’s the least we can do to thank the men and women who have sacrificed their lives for the safety of the United States. Our community veteran’s group is an inspiration to all of us, not only for their service but their continued dedication to education.”