Luncheon Honors Veterans Young and Old

They are separated by decades of warfare, with completely different experiences in terms of setting, training, equipment, enemies and technology, yet, when retired Staff Sergeant Ian Newland walked into the banquet room at Ann's Choice Wednesday afternoon to meet with Korean and Vietnam War veterans, the generation gap instantly vanished.

"I am part of the brotherhood in their eyes," said Newland. "It was a different type of warfare back then, but being around that generation feels like a family reunion. It's an instant connection."

Newland was at the retirement community as one of the guests of honor for a special luncheon thanking the veterans for their service. Before the meal, Newland and resident veterans traded stories about life in the military.  

"This is an opportunity for Ann's Choice to bring together our resident veterans who served valiantly in the past with today's young veterans," said Tony Ciavolella, public affairs manager for Ann's Choice. "They came together to share a connection, a good meal and camaraderie. We are delighted to play host."

A Iraq War veteran, Newland felt that connection from the other side when he recently visited wounded soldiers at Walter Reed Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.

"They are all Afghanistan veterans," said Newland. "I walked in and they were referring to me as one of the old guys."

Newland spends much of his free time as a mentor with the Honor & Courage organization, using his own experiences as a wounded veteran to offer advice and guidance to hospitalized soldiers.

"When I get a call at two in the morning from a soldier suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, Ian's my guy who calls the soldier back and talks him down," said Heather Sliwinski, a case manager with Honor & Courage. "I'm so proud of how far he has come since his injury."

Newland, originally from Colorado, enlisted in the Army in 2002 and was deployed to fight in Operation Iraqi Freedom II. On Dec. 4, 2006, his unit came under attack while on patrol in northeastern Baghdad. When enemy fighters tossed a grenade into Newland's truck, gunner Ross McGinnis jumped on top of the explosive and covered the blast, saving the lives of Newland and three other soldiers.

McGinnis, originally from Knox, Pa., was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor in 2008. After recovering from his injuries, Newland now works with veteran groups such as Honor & Courage.