Experience the world: Army veteran resides at The Lutheran Home
Charles “Charlie” Crandall lives in Special Care Residence at The Lutheran Home: Belle Plaine. The walls of his room are decorated to show off his military history.
There are photos of Charlie, in uniform, when he was promoted to Major and Colonel Ranks. One frame displays all of Charlie’s military medals and honors, including a Purple Heart, a military decoration awarded to those wounded or killed while serving with the U.S. military.
“I have lots of mementos here to help it feel like home,” he said, “Decorative and also a conservation starter.”
Being a member of the United States Army provided Charlie an opportunity to travel and live around the world.
“I was on active duty for 34 years. I lived everywhere in the world. From Europe, Asia, South America and Alaska….all over,” he explained.
Charlie enlisted when he was only 20 years old because he felt qualified for jobs available with the Army. His first role was a platoon leader being in charge of around 20 people. While being stationed overseas, Charlie’s wife Carol was able to live with him.
Being a veteran has allowed Charlie to be often recognized and thanked for his service to our country.
“They express appreciation for the jobs that military members do, defending the country against the bad guys,” Charlie said.
Living at The Lutheran Home allows Charlie to have help easily accessible when he needs it with all sorts of cares. Charlie is only one of 80 veterans currently residing in a TLHA care community. In our 120th year of caring for souls, we are honoring both our veteran residents and team members. Our history begins with one family’s loss during the Civil War. A 15-year-old Ernst Boessling from Belle Plaine volunteered to serve with the Minnesota troops. He died in September of 1863 in service to his country at Vicksburg, Mississippi.
His mother, Sophie, had saved the government death benefits she received all the years after Ernst died. Wanting to provide a home for others like herself, she donated the money and her family’s farmland to build das Alten und Waisenheim—the Aged and Orphans’ Home. Now more than a century later, Sophie’s gift continues to benefit countless lives.
TLHA has active senior living, assisted living and memory care communities in Belle Plaine and Mankato, Minnesota, and River Falls, Fountain City, and Watertown, Wisconsin. Looking for a place to call home? Visit www.tlha.org/communities.