U.S. Navy veteran Bob Brown wants veterans to know that local support is available to them, and they don’t have to live alone.
He said, “I have met so many veterans who don’t know the benefits and the support that is available to them. I’m thankful for the people at the VA who have helped me find a home at The Bernardine, and I want to let others know that there is support available.”
Bob has a good relationship with the local Veterans Association (VA), which helps him manage his healthcare, and they connected him with The Bernardine, a Loretto assisted living community that offers private, secure apartments, where he now lives.
He believes that every veteran has a story, and it’s important that we listen and help whenever possible. Bob’s veteran story began as a young student at St. Bernard’s Seminary in Rochester, when he decided the religious life wasn’t for him. He had always wanted to join the Navy, so he told a recruiter he was a musician, and they said, “We’ve got a job for you.”
Bob joined the admiral’s band from 1962 to 1966 and traveled the world playing saxophone at ambassadors’ parties, admiral events, and community occasions.
After being discharged from the Navy, Bob used the GI Bill to earn his bachelor’s degree at the University of Hawaii and then dedicated his life to being a professional musician.
“When I lived in Hawaii, you are closer to homeless people because the cost of living is high, and many live on the street. I became friends with them and realized many were veterans. It really pains me to see veterans, some of them handicapped, living in the streets when there is help available. I would love to see more veterans take advantage of the help available to them.”
Today, Bob is 86 and is a part of a growing veteran community at The Bernardine. Residents can receive daily meals, medication supervision, and assistance with medical appointments and invitations to participate in social events.
“I’m originally from Syracuse, and I decided to move back here because of my health concerns. I have lived at The Bernardine for about a year and a half, and I like it. I enjoy living in a community and having people check on me.”
Bob was thankful to hear about the HUD-VASH program that helps veterans find, obtain, and sustain permanent housing, which is available at The Bernardine. Loretto is hosting an open house on March 11, 2—3:00 p.m., to help raise awareness of the HUD-VASH Program, and to inform the veteran community of other benefits available to them including health care, mental health treatment, and substance use counseling.
Bob will speak at the event and said a program like this could have helped his friend. He said, “My friend served in Special Forces in Vietnam, and before I left Hawaii, I went to say goodbye. He was homeless, and I found him lying on a bus bench, dying of throat cancer for which he never received any medical care or support. He looked up and blessed me. That moment stays with me today. To me, that reflects a reality that many veterans face: they give their lives to others but don’t know how to help themselves. My hope is that others can learn how programs like HUD-VASH can help, so they know they are not alone, and they can get support.”
To learn more about the HUD-VASH program in Syracuse, New York, visit Homeless Veteran Care | VA Syracuse Health Care | Veterans Affairs
To learn more about The Bernardine and schedule a tour, visit The Bernardine | Loretto