Army veteran Raymond Farrell recently celebrated his 103rd birthday at the Oregon Veterans’ Home in Lebanon, Oregon. Per FOX 12, Farrell was a communications engineer stationed in England, France, and China-Burma.
Linn-Benton Community College faculty Pauletta Huffman heard about Farrell and decided to help make his birthday special with the help of the college’s healthcare program. “We were made aware that Raymond was not feeling well until this outpour of goodwill happened,” she told the Commuter.
After a Facebook post from a family friend of Farrell’s, hundreds of people have helped honor the veteran’s birthday. Per FOX 12, birthday cards have come from all over the country, and even Canada.
Here is what Huffman wrote:
The Linn-Benton Community Healthcare Program in Lebanon likes to pride itself on being a part of the community. Our healthcare faculty and staff want the community to know about our programs and that we are here for them.
And here is one of the instances:
Recently Raymond Farrell, an army veteran (1942-1945) and resident of the Oregon Veterans’ Home in Lebanon, celebrated his 103rd birthday. I heard about him while listening to the HOPE 107.9 radio channel. My father and brother both served and I thought this was amazing, so I found a birthday card, circulated the card to the healthcare faculty, staff, and our students on campus, and signed for missing departments. Then I bought balloons spelling “103” and took them over to the VA Home on Thursday. I discovered our 20 Diagnostic Imaging students were visiting the home on Friday to fill bird feeders they had purchased and installed at the home, so I asked if they could visit Raymond while there. Shortly after asking, Brandi Williamson, the veterans’ home receptionist, emailed me a Fox News clip about Raymond that I forwarded to our departments. She said he loved the birthday card and balloons and he was looking forward to seeing the students. Raymond felt like a celebrity.
On Friday, I received an email from Jennifer Clayton, Diagnostic Imaging Program Chair, that 20 students arrived at the VA home on Friday to fill bird feeders. Approximately 10 students remained to visit with Raymond. In addition, they sang “Happy Birthday” and “For He Is a Jolly Good Fellow.”
One of the students, who is a veteran, noticed that Raymond did not have a bird feeder outside of his window. As of today, he will have one.
This is how LBCC should be seen. Not just an educator but a community partner.
Pictured below: LBCC diagnostic imaging students Brent, Will and Michael (from left to right) pictured with Farrell. Image via Pauletta Huffman.
