Serving Those Who Served: How ClearPath Healthcare Honors Central Oregon Veterans

Veterans deserve more than just a thank you on a holiday. Here’s how ClearPath Healthcare supports Central Oregon veterans throughout the year.

A Program Built by Veterans, for Veterans

Our veterans outreach team began by talking with veterans to understand how ClearPath Healthcare could better support them. They asked what Central Oregon veterans need, where assistance is lacking, and what recognition has been missing.

This led to the creation of Serving Those Who Served, a program named by the team themselves. The goal is simple: to support those who served our country with care, community, and recognition that meets their needs. With over 47 years of experience in Central Oregon hospice care, we are ready to help veterans at the end of life and those who want to connect and be remembered.

The Wall of Honor

ClearPath Healthcare’s own Wall of Honor is the only remembrance wall for veterans like it in Central Oregon. 30’ long and 6’ tall, the Wall of Honor was erected on our Redmond campus in 2013. Each engraved name honors a veteran whose service is now part of our community’s history. The Veterans Wall of Honor is a public monument; no appointment is required to visit. ClearPath Healthcare has hosted TAPS at the wall on the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 4:30 pm, thanks to the Honor Guard from VFW Post 4108. Anyone is invited to come and honor our military.

In the past, families paid a $35 fee to have a loved one’s name engraved on the granite. Now, thanks to a private donation, engraving is free. Once we have gathered enough names to complete half a panel, the engraver comes on-site to engrave the names onto the beautiful stone panels.

If you know a Central Oregon veteran whose service should be remembered on the Wall, we would be honored to add their name. The veteran does not need to have been a ClearPath patient. Any veteran who is honorably discharged and connected to Oregon is welcome to submit paperwork to have their name added to the Wall of Honor; the monument hosts both living and deceased veterans’ names. Alternatively, a family member may submit their veteran’s name to be added to the Wall.

Vet-to-Vet Conversations

Some conversations can only happen between veterans. Our vet-to-vet conversations bring veterans together in Central Oregon senior living communities to share refreshments, stories, and the bond of shared service. The format is simple, but the impact is real. We often see veterans who have not spoken about their service in years open up over coffee with someone who understands.

We are looking for more veteran volunteers to help host and support these conversations as we grow into new communities. If you are a veteran in Central Oregon and want to volunteer, please reach out.

Vietnam Veterans Day Welcome Home

When Vietnam-era veterans returned home, they were not always welcomed. Many still feel that impact today. Each year, around National Vietnam Veterans Day in late March, we host a Welcome Home event to say what should have been said then: thank you, and welcome home.

On the 50th Anniversary of the end of the war, ClearPath hosted an event at the Wall of Honor, presenting Vietnam Veterans with a special pin provided by the Department of Defense. In April 2026, ClearPath partnered with local vendors and hosted a free spaghetti dinner for over 150 local veterans at the VFW in Redmond. Vietnam veterans, their families, and anyone from the Central Oregon community can learn more about each annual Welcome Home event on ClearPath’s website.

Pinning Ceremonies and Bedside Recognition

A veteran pinning ceremony is a small act that leaves a lasting memory. We hold these ceremonies for veteran patients and their families, often at the bedside or in a special place for the veteran. The ceremony can be as grand or as intimate as the patient wants; we recruit a veteran volunteer (in uniform) – ideally from the same branch of the military the patient served in.

The pinning ceremony is simply a moment when we formally thank the patient for their service by presenting them with an American flag pin, a patriotic quilt, and a certificate honoring their service to our nation. The pin, quilt, and certificate are symbols, but the pinning ceremonies are about recognition, specifically at the end of someone’s life. For many veterans, these ceremonies are incredibly impactful.

In the past year, we have held 21 pinning ceremonies for veterans from all branches and many eras.

A New Panel Added to the Wall of Honor

In late May, in partnership with the Redmond Band of Brothers Color Guard, ClearPath held a private ceremony to honor veterans whose names were recently added to the Wall of Honor. Families, fellow veterans, and our care team came together to read names, share memories, and remember service that should never be forgotten. It was an afternoon that showed us why this program matters.

If you missed the ceremony but would like to see the Wall in person, you are welcome to visit.

How to Get Involved

Serving Those Who Served depends on community involvement. Here are some ways you can help:

– Volunteer as a vet-to-vet conversation host or veteran companion

– Add a Central Oregon veteran’s name to the Wall of Honor (now free)

– Donate to support the program’s expansion

– Share this post with a veteran or veteran family member who would benefit

Why This Work Matters to Us

We have served Central Oregon families for over 47 years, and every year, we have cared for our local veterans. Their stories are woven into our history, and every member of our team has been touched by the veterans we have supported. Serving Those Who Served is not just a program; it is part of who we are.

To every veteran in our community, thank you. We recognize your service and are honored to support you and your family.