Residents reflect as Veterans Day approaches

Students from Washington High School Room 203 passed out Hershey candy bars to people of the UPH Community as part of their #heartwarmingtheworld project. This project is a spinoff from a news article featuring 93-year-old Bob Williams of Long Grove, Iowa, who pays it forward by generously gifting large Hershey candy bars to friends as well as strangers just to put a smile on their face and make their day. The news article evolved into a commercial for the Hersey Candy Company, #heartwarmingtheworld. Schools across the country have picked up on this lesson in kindness by passing out Hershey's Chocolate to promote friendships. Little did Bob Williams know that he would be changing the world one candy bar at a time. Thanks to WHS Students of Room 203 for spreading the love in our community.

United Presbyterian Home residents and staff held a Veterans Day program Wednesday with the help of the Washington chapter of the American Legion. Lonny Milligan paid tribute to all veterans with his remarks of gratitude and shared stories of the struggles many veterans endure after leaving service and returning home. UPH resident veterans were recognized as well as those who passed away this year. The service was well-attended by residents and veterans from the community to honor, remember and most importantly to say thank you to those men and women who sacrificed for the sake of our freedom. The program concluded with Mike Orris playing taps on his trumpet in somber remembrance.

Rodney Letts and Jim Bower provided treats in the Town Center this week to celebrate their birthdays with friends and neighbors.

Wellness staff members Amy Kleese, Stefanie Haworth and Hannah Brenneman hosted their annual Healthy Holiday Cooking Class Thursday in the Campus Center. They prepared food, shared recipes and suggested tips on how to get through the winter and holiday seasons with healthy food options and minimal or no weight gain. The food popped with color this year as they incorporated the healthy additions of cranberries, orange squashes and winter greens. The menu included meatballs with cranberry aioli, butternut squash, cranberry and goat cheese crostini, kale Brussels sprout salad and mini pumpkin and apple pie bites for dessert. Residents enjoyed sampling each of the items and took home recipes to make their own and share with family.

Wayne Brock will perform with the Iowa Military Veterans Band in Des Moines at the Civic Center on Nov. 11, 2018 for their Star Spangled Salute to Veterans. Wayne will be one of four generations of the Brock family military service members present at the event. Others include Wayne's son, Pat Brock; grandson, Kenneth Lindsey; and great-granddaughter, Heidi Lindsey. Performing along with Wayne will be his son, Ron Brock. Other family members joining him include Marsha and Richard Platt, Lynne Brock, Evan and Melissa Lindsey, Jennifer Lyndsey and his sister-in-law, Mary Meeks.

Classics Et Cetera for Nov. 8, 2018 included the overture to 'Der Gascogner;” Moments Musicaux No. 3 by Franz Schubert; 'Voi che sapete” from 'The Marriage of Figaro” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart; 2nd Movement of Double Violin Concerto by Johann Sebastian Bach; 'Banana Peel Rag,” by Gus Winkler, played by the Paragon Ragtime Orchestra; 'Les Préludes” by Franz Liszt; 'Gallant Marines,” march by Karl L. King.

'Symphonic poem” is a term coined by Franz Liszt (1811-1886), a Hungarian-born composer and pianist, in an attempt to link together the arts of literature and music. 'Les Préludes” is the third of the 13 symphonic poems he wrote. A deeply spiritual man (he even became an abbé, a secular priest), Liszt wrote, 'What is life but a series of preludes to that unknown hymn whose first solemn note is tolled by death?” Thus, 'Les Préludes” is a grand and glorious tone poem, 15 minutes in length, illustrating life as a prelude to what is coming beyond. I have been awestruck by its heavenly sound for over 70 years, but its impact is even greater with Liszt's thoughts in mind.