Photo By Mark Olsen | United States Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Bryan Battaglia, left, senior enlisted advisor to...... read more read more
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PARAMUS, N.J. - United States Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Bryan B. Battaglia is use to walking down hallways to meet people. On Monday, the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman (SEAC) of the Joint Chiefs of Staff swapped the rings of the Pentagon for the wings of the Veterans Memorial Home in Paramus.
Battaglia stopped at the skilled nursing facility the day before military appreciation activities at The Barclays PGA golf tourney, also in Paramus.
“I am fortunate and grateful to spend time with them,” said Battaglia, who serves as a principal military adviser to the Chairman and the Secretary of Defense. “They are truly, why we have a free country.”
The top noncommissioned officer in the U.S. armed forces shook hands with residents throughout his tour of the 300-bed home that included calling out numbers during their bingo game.
“It just goes to show how close knit a brother and sisterhood this facility brings to its veterans,” said Battaglia.
Members of the veterans’ home advisory board and other veteran service organization leaders greeted the SEAC, explaining how donations of time and money make the facility better for their fellow veterans.
“It is community; these veterans come together from all branches of the service and they spend time with one another and that is the beauty of our armed forces,” said Battaglia. “No other profession in the world does that.”
Battaglia called the residents the “Heroes of our nation” and the visit allowed him to see firsthand what states are doing to ensure health care for veterans.
“Continued health coverage for all of our comrades, those who have fought for our country, is why I am here,” said Battaglia.
Spc. Oscar Baldriche, 444th MPAD contributed to this story.
| Date Taken: | 08.18.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 08.21.2014 15:34 |
| Story ID: | 140061 |
| Location: | PARAMUS, NEW JERSEY, US |
| Web Views: | 278 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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