Gelinger at home among veterans

President Calvin Coolidge once said, "Patriotism is easy to understand in America — it means looking out for yourself by looking out for your country."

It is obvious from the moment anyone hears Linda Gelinger talk about the Veterans Home in Boulder City, her enthusiasm shines just as bright as the red, white and blue in this country today. For Gelinger, showing patriotism is something that has been embedded in her at a young age.

Her father was in the Navy in World War II. Her brother was a sniper in the Army and died in combat in Vietnam. Gelinger's mother became a member of the Gold Star Mothers organization, which is a group dedicated to serving veterans. Lastly, her husband is a retired lieutenant colonel in the Air Force and retired from the military after 28 years of service.

Once Gelinger saw an opportunity to switch her title from interim to permanent Veteran's Home Administrator, she jumped on it.

"I was very impressed with the staff's dedication for caring for the veterans. It is very rewarding for me to see the other side of how people take care of them here, and it is an inspiration to me," says Gelinger, who finds fulfillment in serving those who served our country. "It is my contribution to my state and my country. I take it very seriously."

It is safe to say Gelinger has the support of the entire staff and 180 residents that stay at the Veteran's Home. With the help of volunteer coordinator Julie Boyer, Gelinger has stated that resident care is her main focus. They put together anywhere from 60-80 activities a month for residents to enjoy.

Some activities include bingo, baking, jam sessions, playing trivia or even going out to the cinema to catch the new "Star Wars: The Force Awakens." The goal is to get these veterans active and participating in the community.

"We do whatever we can to care for these veterans, that have taken care of this country. If it means fundraising or baking or going out to get manicures, we'll do it," says Boyster, who has been with the Veteran's Home for a little over a year now. "If they pass the state and federal qualifications, we can even take care of the spouses or mothers of fallen veterans."

As Gelinger moves forward and sheds the title of interim, she is able to proceed with more goals that she sees in the future for the Veterans Home. As the only home in Nevada for veterans, the quality and care for the residents remains her top priority. Yet she knows she will not be able to achieve her goals without the help from her caring staff.

"My commitment is to our staff and make sure they get the right training, because the staff here is very good," gushes Gelinger about the people she is proud to call her coworkers. "You can't do it without the staff. This is the right place for me to be at this time of my life."

As Boyster points out, a lot of times many veterans cannot afford to go to a movie or enjoy recreational activities because of financial restraints. Many fundraisers and donations help give veterans the opportunity to enjoy a lot of these weekly events without worrying about not being able to afford it. Thanks to the tremendous generosity throughout the valley, the Veteran's Home will continue to serve our veterans, just as they served us.