Aberdeen Heights
Memorial Day – More than just the unofficial start of summer MAY 2023
“It’s all about loving my neighbors” Resident Tom Mitchell explains decision to give back to Aberdeen Heights Tom and Cindy Mitchell have a generous spirit rooted in faith. That’s Tom and Cindy Mitchell why when they learned about the PMMA (Presbyterian Manors of MidAmerica®) Good Samaritan program set up to assist residents who outlive their savings, donating was a no-brainer.
For many of us, Memorial Day means a fun three-day weekend to celebrate the unofficial beginning of summer. But at heart, Memorial Day is a somber day to honor and remember those who died fighting for their country. Memorial Day used to be known as Decoration Day – it was established in 1868, three years after the end of the Civil War, with the purpose of having people place flowers on the graves of family members and friends who died during the war. Decoration Day gradually became Memorial Day. At first, it only recognized fallen solders of the Civil
“This is a case for this particular fund that we don’t normally think about,” Tom Mitchell explained. “Most people here at Aberdeen Heights and other PMMA communities have been prosperous, so you don’t think about running out of money, but it happens.” Mitchell explained that as a retired actuary, he knows the ins and outs of retirement planning. “No matter how well you plan, things do happen. It would wrench my heart out if someone had to leave because they lived longer than they ever could have imagined.” As for life at Aberdeen Heights, the Mitchells say they couldn’t be happier. “It’s become my home and we have a nest of friends that even exceeds what I had in college,” Tom said. The continuum of care, he said, was also essential to their decision to move in more than seven years ago. “We did not have long-term care insurance so this sort of polishes off the financial planning for the end of life by having the health benefit here,” he explained. “It was a deficit in the other places where we looked.” To learn more about the PMMA Department of Giving, visit https://giving.presbyterianmanors.org/ u
John A. Logan - Major John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic declared May 30, 1868 as Decoration Day which eventually became Memorial Day. The first national celebration took place at Arlington National Cemetery where both Confederate and Union soldiers were buried.
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