MANSFIELD, Ohio — Residents at Dayspring Assisted Living and Care Facility enjoyed snacks, holiday cards and company Saturday afternoon when members from Rolling Thunder Inc. Chapter 5 Ohio hosted a party for them.
Rolling Thunder Inc. Chapter 5 Vice President Frank Schumacher said the group visits with the Dayspring residents two or three times per year. Each time it’s special, he said.
“We’re giving, and we’re trying to serve the community and remember veterans in the best way we can,” Schumacher said.
When they started hosting the annual Christmas party in the building’s conference room 14 years ago, Schumacher said Dayspring had eight to 10 veterans.
“We’re a POW/MIA advocacy group and originally we just hosted the party for veterans, but this year we invited them all,” said Schumacher, also a Vietnam War veteran.
He was unsure how many residents were veterans, but that didn’t slow the party.
Schumacher said Rolling Thunder Inc. is in the business of finding remains of soldiers from World War I to present day — he said there are an estimated 83,000 “still out there.”
The national group of approximately 30,000 members also works to protect veterans from being left behind should they be prisoners of war or missing in action.
Dayspring Activities Director Amy Clark has been with the assisted living home, situated on 226 acres off Ohio 545, for 15 years. Her grandmother worked there in the 1940s, she said.
That’s how she knew of the place when she was in her 20s and in need of a part-time job. Clark said she applied as a laundry worker — she’s been there ever since.
“I still don’t know what I want to do when I grow up,” she said, laughing. “But I feel like I’m coming home every day I walk in here.”
The facility, which has been in operation for 170 years, has always been an assisted living home, according to Clark. The residents range in age from 23 to 98. One resident, Alex Zakien, became a resident when he was 17, he is now in his 70s.
“I love the residents. I love coming in in the morning and getting a smile, a wave and a hug,” said Clark. “This place found me.”
Residents enjoyed the company as they sifted through the goodie bags given them by members of Rolling Thunder Inc. Christmas music played from a PA system in the back of the room as they socialized.
