Iowa Legionnaires pay a final salute to veterans at local hospital

After the passing of his friend and fellow Legionnaire Dick Crook in July 2020, Don De Kock spoke with Dick’s wife Diana, a nurse at Pella Regional Health Center in Pella, Iowa, who wanted to know what more could be done to honor veterans when they pass away. This conversation resulted in De Kock – commander of American Legion Post 89 – and Diana working together to implement the Hero’s Final Salute program at the hospital.

“I will tell you there is always a blessing that comes when you do this for a veteran,” said De Kock, a U.S. Navy veteran and retired law enforcement officer.

When a veteran, or a first responder who dies in the line of duty, passes away at Pella Regional, those caring for the patient will notify Post 89 to provide the final salute. Dressed in sport coat and tie, De Kock and other post members will then arrive at the hospital to drape an American flag over the veteran, share with family members in attendance what a hero their veteran was, and then recite words from the Bible verse John 15:13: “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

The veteran is then escorted through the hallways to transportation outside, with family members and Post 89 members walking behind in procession. The hospital announces over the intercom when a veteran is being escorted so hospital staff, if able, can stand in the hallway to pay their final respects. Once the veteran, family and Legionnaires get to the transportation vehicle, De Kock and a post member or family member will remove the flag draped over the veteran and fold it. De Kock holds the American flag to his chest while stepping away in honor from the veteran. The families also will receive a card signed by the nursing staff who cared for their loved one, and by Post 89 members.

“We just want to honor our veterans, give them one final salute of honoring their time in the military,” he said. “When you do these things and you talk with the families, it’s amazing what you get back from responses.” De Kock shared that one family from a veteran Post 89 provided the Hero’s Final Salute to put a large thank-you message to them in the local newspaper.

Prior to implementing the Hero’s Final Salute program at Pella Regional Health Center, De Kock checked with the state department about protocols since Pella is not a VA facility; he then spoke with two local VA hospitals about their final salute program protocols and created his own from there. Now Pella Regional is the only non-VA hospital in the state of Iowa to have this program.

“It’s just a really neat program,” De Kock said. “It’s a blessing to do it for our veterans, and it’s very touching.”