This Veterans Day, we honor the brave individuals who have selflessly served their country with courage and integrity. Among these heroes are Marine Corps Lance Corporal, Derald Lehman and Navy Chief Officer, Sean Dreer.
At 17, Derald enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, serving as a Lance Corporal in the Vietnam War. He met his wife Melody through his sister while still in the service, and they have been married since 1968. Their family has grown to include three children, eight grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren.
In recent years, Derald has experienced progressive health challenges, including Parkinson's Disease and dementia, leading to his transition into hospice care. As he approaches his final salute, Derald's only wish is to be laid to rest in his Dress Blues, a symbol of honor, commitment and pride. But he no longer had his own uniform, a loss that had troubled him for many years, at least until he was introduced to Sean, a hospice volunteer.
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Sean, who served in the Navy for 27 years, has volunteered with Parkview Hospice since 2015, conducting Veterans Pinnings and social visits. "The first time I met Derald, I was doing a military pinning for the family. We chatted about his military service and being a cook for the Marine Corps in Vietnam," Sean said. The two quickly bonded over their shared military service. Despite having served in different branches and eras, they exchanged anecdotes and laughed over the large green cans used by military cooks to supply coffee to the unit—an essential comfort during long days.
After the pinning ceremony, Sean says Melody explained to him the dilemma of Derald's lost uniform. Without hesitation, he set out to make Derald's wish a reality, contacting the Navy Chiefs Mess at the Navy Reserve Center in Detroit, Michigan. Sean passed along Derald's story and soon after was connected with a Marine in Grand Rapids who possessed precisely what he had hoped to find. "He had the perfect size for Mr. Lehman's uniform," Sean said. The stranger generously donated the dress uniform, asking only for a photo of Derald receiving it in return.
Securing the package, however, was only part of Sean's mission. He wanted to ensure the dress garments were in pristine condition before delivering them to the Lehman family, so he had the uniform dry-cleaned and pressed. He also stopped at a local Army surplus store to purchase the corresponding patches and medals.
During his next visit with the Lehman family, Sean presented Derald with the unexpected gesture, bringing tears to everyone's eyes. "He lit up like a Christmas tree," Melody said. "He may not be able to respond like he used to, but we can tell it made him happy." Overwhelmed with emotion, Derald candidly stated, "That's mine."
Thanks to Sean's dedication to providing support and reassurance to fellow veterans, Derald can now embrace his final moments—adorned in blue—with honor and dignity.
Volunteer opportunities with Parkview Hospice
Being a Hospice volunteer allows you to be involved with patients and their families during a challenging time in a variety of ways. Whether you help with bereavement support, caregiver relief, companionship visits or other duties, volunteering with Hospice can lead to a meaningful experience. For more information, please contact us at 260-373-9800.
