Spirits of Arizona vets lifted during annual visit

By Michael Ferraresi

Story and photos by Michael Ferraresi
GCU News Bureau

Residents of the Arizona State Veterans Home received a spirited Independence Day greeting from Grand Canyon University staffers Thursday as part of GCU's annual Salute Our Troops event.

Dozens of University employees, primarily from the Military Division, engaged veterans in games, a drum circle and military hymns and also prayed alongside them as part of a regularly scheduled church service.

GCU executive vice president Bart Burkert, who oversees the Military Division, said he and other staffers recognized many of the veteran residents from visiting the Veterans Home over the past five years. He said the visits have helped staffers build relationships and connect with those who sacrificed so much in World War II, Korea and Vietnam.

“It's just great to be able to bring these guys a little bit of joy, but it also means a lot to our staff, too,“ Burkert said. “We don't want to forget these stories and what these guys have gone through, especially for some of our younger employees.“

The Veterans Home, a 200-bed care facility near Indian School Road and Seventh Street, provides a range of medical and rehabilitative care for Arizona's disabled veterans.


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Bible Verse

"Consider carefully what you hear," Jesus continued. "With the measure you use, it will be measured to you — and even more. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him." Mark 4:24-25



Jesus continued His message, saying, "Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and His worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth." (John 4:23-24)

To Read More: www.verseoftheday.com/