In the News | Full Coverage of the Purple Heart Dedication

Observance of Veterans Day at Three Rivers was fully covered by the press. See below for stories from The Day, Norwich Bulletin and WTNH Channel 8.

 

Three Rivers designates parking spots for Purple Heart recipients

Norwich, CT (The Day, November 12, 2018) —  Three Rivers Community College unveiled two parking spots, freshly painted purple, near the main entrance on campus Monday – making it the first college in the state to designate parking spots for Purple Heart recipients.

Two current students and a faculty member have been awarded the medal. They were not at the brief ceremony unveiling the spots Monday, and did not want their names publicized.

The Purple Heart, one of the oldest and most renowned military medals, is awarded to service members who were killed or wounded by enemy action. The medal was established by the Army in 1932, initially to recognize “meritorious action.”

The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor estimates that 1.8 million Purple Hearts have been awarded. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have greatly increased the number of service members receiving the award, and the potential conditions for receiving the award: a purple heart-shaped medal with bronze border and George Washington’s coat of arms between two green spray leaves.

A local organization started by a Three Rivers graduate and Purple Heart recipient Brent Walker donated the signage for the newly designated parking spots. Walker is the CEO and founder of Guardians of the Purple Heart, which assists and raises awareness about Purple Heart recipients in Connecticut. … Read the full article here: Three Rivers designates parking spots for Purple Heart recipients.

— By Julia Bergman, Day staff writer

 

Local veterans celebrated; honored for service

Norwich, CT (Norwich Bulletin, November 12, 2018) — While eastern Connecticut was abuzz Sunday with Veterans Day celebrations and commemorations, a pair of local events Monday at Three Rivers Community College and Foxwoods Resort Casino carried forth the region’s efforts to honor veteran service and sacrifice.

At Three Rivers in Norwich, the school held a dedication for two newly-designated Purple Heart parking spaces just steps away from the building’s main entrance.

The school’s acting Director of Student Activities Alycia Ziegler said the school has a large veteran population and felt it was appropriate to honor the veteran population at Three Rivers.

“Eight percent of our students are veterans,” Ziegler said. “A great number more are military families or families of veterans.” … Read the full article here: Local veterans celebrated; honored for service.

— By Kevin Aherne, Norwich Bulletin staff writer

 

 Purple Heart parking spaces at Three Rivers

NORWICH, Conn. (WTNH) – Front-row recognition for those who served and sacrificed for our country.

“We wanted to give our combat-wounded veterans access to the front of the building,
but we didn’t want to take away from the handicapped spots,” said Alycia Ziegler, Director of Student Activities at Three Rivers Community College.

The two spots painted purple are reserved for Purple Heart recipients. The school knows of two students and one staff member who have received the military honor.

“I think it’s amazing being an alumni, being a Purple Heart recipient,” said Brent Walker who founded the group Guardians of the Purple Heart. … Watch the full clip here: Purple Heart parking spaces at Three Rivers

— By Tina Detelj, News 8, WTNH reporter

 

 

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In the News | Attendees take advantage of free screenings at health expo

Mohegan, CT (The Day, November 10, 2018) —  Michael White worked in cardiology for 27 years, and noticed a distinct change in patient behavior during that time.

“It used to be if you had chest pain, you’d run to the doctor,” White said. Now, people will wait months before going to the doctor, at which point there’s often fewer options for treatment. “People come in with pain, open wounds, black toes,” he said. “If we catch some of it earlier, we can prevent amputation, that’s what it’s about.”

White, director of business development at The Vascular Experts: Southeastern CT Vascular Center, said that was the point of offering free vascular disease screenings Saturday as part of the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut’s “Total Life Expo” at Mohegan Sun, which also featured dozens of vendors and cooking and fitness demonstrations.

As of 1:30 p.m., about 50 people, ranging in age from twenties to nineties, went through the quick vascular ultrasound. About 75 percent of them said it was their first time getting that kind of screening, White said.

The Uncas Health District Medical Reserve Corps partnered with the nursing program at Three Rivers Community College to perform blood pressure screenings.

Nursing students had screened about 75 people, as young as 23 and as old as 73, as of 1:45 p.m. High blood pressure, which can lead to stroke and other serious health problems, is known as “the silent killer” because people don’t know they have high blood pressure because they don’t exhibit any symptoms.

Jim Latourette, 84, of Quaker Hill said he usually has his blood pressure checked once a week at his local senior center, but decide to take advantage of that and the vascular disease screening while touring the expo. He has high blood pressure and vascular problems, and while he’s seen a physician about both, he said he was “steered in the direction of help” on Saturday for his vascular issues.

Lori Bernier, a primary therapist at Natchaug Hospital in Mansfield, was manning a booth that gave free mental health screenings. Eleven people visited the booth. Karen Colt, an employee of Rivereast Treatment Center in Vernon, part of Natchaug Hospital, said she’s done mental health screenings at the expo for three years, and she’s noticed people are curious to get information but reluctant to fill out an assessment form.

“They’ll talk but actually filling out the form is difficult,” Colt said. Some have walked by, seen the “depression” sign hanging above the booth and quickly looked away, she said, which shows while the stigma around mental health has lessened, it still exists.

“It’s like any other disease,” she said. “People don’t hesitate to talk at the swimming pool about their cardiovascular issues or eczema.” Bernier also was alerting people to a program she runs at the hospital for adults 55 and older who are struggling with mental illness or substance abuse. “You don’t think of seniors as having substance abuse problems but it can be a big issue for people with a lot of time on their hands and no regular routine,” Colt said.

They also can struggle with chronic illnesses that keep them isolated at home, she said, or feel loneliness due to the loss of a partner or friend.

 

— By Julia Bergman, Day staff writer

The original article can be found here: Attendees take advantage of free screenings at health expo

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