When veteran Marine Colonel Tim Herndon retired from the private sector in 2015, he looked for a way to give back to his military community. While attending a local veterans event, he was introduced to a program at Carolina Caring that honors veterans. The We Honor Veterans program was started by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) in partnership with the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA), to improve access of hospice care to veterans and their loved ones as well as recognizing veterans for their service to our country. 

Believing he could help make an impact, Tim joined the group and has been honoring veterans ever since – thanking them for putting their lives on the line to protect our freedoms.

Having commanded squadrons and having served throughout the Western Pacific, Mediterranean and Adriatic Sea to include Beirut, Bosnia, and the Persian Gulf during Operation Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom, Tim now dedicates his time to visiting with veterans and honoring them with certificates and a pinning ceremony to formally acknowledge their contributions.

“My role as a volunteer at Carolina Caring has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my time serving our nation’s military,” says Tim. “I have had the privilege of visiting with veterans who have never really opened up about their military service, but when I formally present them with a certificate and a pin, they often begin sharing powerful stories that bring peace and closure.  This is a special way that I can give back to those Veterans who gave freely to all of us.”

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Tim’s We Honor Veterans presentation has been captured on video and will be shared with veterans as they near the end of their lives to honor their service and sacrifice.