Sunshine Country Club Estates
SUNSHINE HEROES
Wall of Honor
(Started Jan 8, 2020)
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Sent 2020-11-14: Sunshine Heroes Wall of Honor -
Project Background - It was decided here at Sunshine that we would recognize our neighbors, not for a single act of heroism but their heroic service. We wanted to recognize the people from our community who made a commitment to give part of their lives for the benefit of others. This is what the SUNSHINE HEROES Wall of Honor represents. It is our way to recognize them and say thank you for your service.
Last Spring in Retzlaff Hall, we unveiled our Sunshine Heroes Wall of Honor complete with their engraved names on an individual metal plate. There is also a Memory Book of photos of our heroes. This touching monument serves as a reminder that many of our residents sacrificed their lives for the freedom we enjoy today. (See picture below.)
You may support this wall by completing an application and some brief information (form available at SEPO Office). We would like a photo in uniform. Jim Tennant is available for questions 616 866 9960.
What is a Veteran? - whether retired, discharged, active duty or reserve – is someone who at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to ”The United States of America” for an amount up to and including his or her life. (Author unknown)
What Is A Hero? - Dictionary.com defines a hero as a person noted for courageous acts or nobility of character.
A true hero is someone who gives of themselves for the benefit of others, sometimes at great personal risk. There are many in our community who have given parts of their lives in the service of our country regardless of the risk. There are those who have chosen a career of community service – Law enforcement, First Responders and Fire Fighters are examples. All these people have given freely of themselves for the benefit of others. These are a few examples of what we can all recognize as heroes, but we do not usually honor them for their service.
If you save a person from a car accident or give CPR to someone you would be recognized for heroism. The person who donates blood to help others is a hero. A person who may donate an organ or bone marrow is a hero. Are these very special people any more heroic then the others who served us?
Jim Tennant
Sent 2020-03-21: SUNSHINE HEROES -
As another winter season comes to a close, I just want to give you all a reminder about the SUNSHINE HEROES wall. In case you haven’t seen it, the wall is up in Retzlaff Hall and has 41 names on it. Those of you who have made a pledge for this project, I will be coming around this week to collect. I want to thank all those who have donated to this project both monetarily and with their time and labor. The applications are still available from Valerie in the SEPO office. When you complete your application return it to Valerie along with your picture. If you do not have a picture or prefer a current picture be sure to check the box on the form that you will need a picture taken. I will be contacting you upon my return in the fall to take a current picture for this book.
Remember as we travel home to be safe and when you get there find your favorite picture of you or your spouse, in uniform or not, to be placed in the book that is placed with the display wall.
I want to have this SUNSHINE HEROS display to represent all of the people who served.
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Jim Tennant 4161 N Missouri (616)866-9960 Email: jimbuck1050@yahoo.com
Sent 2020-02-20: SUNSHINE HEROES UPDATE -
This is a final call for this season for our residents who served in the armed forces of all nations and the men and women in our community who served as Police Officers, Fire Fighters and EMT/First Responders. The service wall plans are moving along. The wall display is to recognize residents living and deceased where the surviving spouse or other relation resides within the estates.
I will be available in the library on March 12, 2020 between 10:00 and 12:00 to take pictures and accept applications. If you have a picture I will be accepting them at these times.
If residents want their picture or their spouse’s picture included on the wall they will need to fill out an application form. These forms are available in the office. Check with Valerie to get one, or see me. My information is below. She also has pledge forms available if you need one.
The picture you provide for use will be copied and returned, please write on the application form so that I can return your picture.
All name plates and pictures that are placed on the wall and in the book should remain there indefinitely.
I want to inform our residents on the status of this project. The wall is installed and the name plates are ordered. Engraving is being done on 28 of the plates, as that is the amount of applicants we had when the order was placed. Additional plates will be engraved as we receive applications.
The pledges that I asked for at the Annual Meeting are coming in with many neighbors preferring to make cash donations rather than a pledge. I am keeping an accounting of all donations and expenditures and will make it available for anyone to see upon request.
It is hoped that the first name plates will be on the wall very soon. Thank you for your pledges and donations towards this project and for those still to come in.
Jim Tennant, 4161 N Missouri, 616-866-9960, Email jimbuck1050@yahoo.com
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Sent 2019-12-27 Newsletter: Wall of Honor -
This is a 2nd call for all our residents who served in the armed forces of all nations and the men and women in our community who served as police officers, fire fighters and first responders. The service wall plans are moving along. The wall display is to recognize residents living and deceased where the surviving spouse or other relation resides within the estates.
I will be available in the library on January 8th between 10:00 and 11:00 also 1:30 to 2:30 to accept pictures and applications. If you do not have a picture, I will be taking pictures at these times.
This will be a wall similar to the ones in place in Retzlaff Hall to honor the golfing achievements. It will have a title at the top stating the purpose. The name plates below containing the name of the honoree the type of service and dates of service. Accompanying the wall, I propose having a pedestal, or shelf to hold a photograph album of the honorees.
If residents want their picture or their spouse’s picture included on the wall, they will need to fill out an application form. These forms are available in the office. Check with Valerie to get one, or see me. My information is below.
The picture you provide for use will be copied and returned if you write in pencil on the back of the picture; the name, address and phone number of where it is to be returned.
All name plates and pictures that are placed on the wall and in the book should remain there indefinitely.
Any questions contact:
Jim Tennant
4161 N Missouri
616-866-9960
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Sent 2019-11-26 Newsletter: Wall of Honor -
This is a call for all our residents who served in the armed forces of all nations and the men and women in our community who served as police officers, fire fighters and first responders. We are planning a service wall of honor to recognize residents living and deceased where the surviving spouse resides within the estates. I will be available in the library on December 3rd between 10:00 and 11:00 also 1:30 to 2:30 to accept pictures and applications. If you do not have a picture, I will be taking pictures at these times.
This will be a wall similar to the ones in place to honor the golfing achievements that are in Retzlaff Hall. It will have a title at the top stating the purpose. The name plates below containing the name of the honoree, the type of service and dates of service. Accompanying the wall, I propose having a pedestal, or shelf to hold a photograph album of the honorees.
If residents want their picture or their spouse’s picture included on the wall, they will need to fill out an application form. These forms are available in the office, just ask Valerie for one.
The picture you provide for use will be copied and returned if you write in pencil on the backside of the picture the name, address and phone number of where it is to be returned.
All name plates and pictures that are placed on the wall and in the book should remain there indefinitely.
Any questions contact: Jim Tennant, 4161 N Missouri, 616-866-9960, email jimbuck1050@yahoo.com