SETX Seniors

2015

Seniors resource guide Volume 3

Last of the Greatest Series Leo Trahan WW WWII

Pg.6-9

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Southeast Texas Senior Ministries In Southeast Texas, our churches are not only the center of our spiritual life, they are often the center of our communities. Most of us find it hard to separate church from childhood as we remember back to Sunday sermons, Wednesday fellowship, and church picnics and holiday events. Some Golden Triangle seniors have remained in church throughout their lives. Others of us have gaps around traveling for work in the oilfields, being out of our routine in the military, or for countless other reasons. Many of us find our way back to church in our golden years. Once again, church becomes the center of our community. As our grown children either move away or become busy with their own lives (cue the song 䇾Cat䇻s in the Cradle䇿 by Harry Chapin), we need to make new relationships. As we go into retirement, we need to find new hobbies and activities. The senior ministries of our Southeast Texas churches are a wonderful way to explore new hobbies, meet new people, and to fill up our social and spiritual calendars. The following are some of the great activities available through the SETX Church community.

First Baptist Vidor offers their seniors: Glory Singers Tuesdays @ 9:00am Glory Band Tuesdays @ 10:00am JOY Club Lunch Bunch 2nd Thursday of each month at 11:30am Homebound Ministry Day Trips 55 Plus Conferences and Retreats Extended Trips FBCVidor.org St. Paul United Methodist Church in Bridge City S.P.A.R.C.: St. Paul Active Retired Christians Meet the last Friday of each month at 11am for lunch and activities. Some months they have activities and a meal at the church, other months seniors hit the road for a restaurant or special event.

All those 50 and over are welcome StPaulFamily.com Crestwood Baptist Church between Lumberton and Kountze offers: Fun Bunch - 2nd & 4th Tuesdays of the month, 9a - Noon Board games, fun activities, & a fellowship meal for seniors Songwriting classes the first Monday of each month from 6:30 to 7:30p Sisters in Stitches quilting and women’s fellowship Tuesdays 9:30a - 2p.

CrestwoodBC.com First United Methodist Church in Nederland is home to “Golden Friends”: Meet Tuesday mornings at 8:30 for fellowship, food, & games including dominoes.

Wednesdays at 9 exercise Grief Recovery Support (visit their online calendar) FUMCNet.org Say Say, ay, “II sa saw w it in in SE SETX TX X Se Senio Seniors niors nio ni i rs Gu Guide Guide” ide”” ide

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First Baptist Church Orange hosts the “Prime Timers”:.

Meet the 3rd Thursday of the month for games followed by a meal Enjoy regularly scheduled trips throughout the year - sometimes are daytrips around the Golden Triangle, others are week long adventures FBCO.org

First United Methodist Church Silsbee sponsors “Prime Timers”: Meet Tuesdays at 10 during the school year (call for summer hours) for fun, faith, & fellowship.

Contact Nancy Ratchford. (409) 385-5568. NMR420@aol.com.

SilsbeeUMC.com This is just a tiny sample of all local that our churches have to offer SETX Seniors.

For more, log onto: SETXSeniors.com or SETXChurchGuide.com.

Each site posts over 400 articles a year including lots of great activities for the Golden Triangle senior community. “Like” each site on Facebook to receive regular updates on upcoming activities.

Does your church have special events for seniors? Post them to our SETX Seniors Facebook page or to the SETX Church Guide Facebook Page.

Call (512) 567-8068 to promote your church year round on SETX Church Guide.

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Last of the Greatest

Leo Trahan

Leo Trahan was raised in the rural community of Forked Island, Louisiana. In his teens, he moved to Port Arthur at the recommendation of his sister and got a job as a pipe fitter’s helper. The Southeast Texas petroleum jobs paid much better than he could have received back home in Forked Island.

Immediately upon receiving his draft papers, Trahan returned to Lafayette and signed up for the US Army.

He was drafted into the brand new 106th that was formed during WWII for the European campaign.

After training and two weeks leave to say goodbye to family (for many in his unit for the last time), Leo Trahan was sent over in preparation for the D-Day invasion.

His unit went across in style on the Queen Elizabeth, the world’s premier luxury liner. They went to Scotland and marched into England. After a pep talk from General Patton, the 106th crossed the English Channel to Le’ Havre. From there, they marched all the way to Belgium - weeks of walking from dawn to dusk.

U.S. supply lines were greatly strained and often the106th was without food.

From his childhood in Forked Island, Trahan was able to communicated with the Belgians in French. Shared language opened the hearts of many Belgians who offered their hidden stores of eggs and vegetables.

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When Trahan’s unit first encountered the Germans, there was an uneasy and unofficial peace. German and American enlisted men waved when they glimpsed each other through the woods. One night the Germans began playing really louds music. Leo Trahan and his companions soon learned that the music was being played to cover barge sounds bringing German men and equipment across the river.The next day, the uneasy peace was over and the Battle of the Bulge had begun.

The 422nd and 423rd Infantry, including Trahan were completely encircled by the Germans. Again, the Americans were out of food and too soon also out of ammunition. To end the loss of life for the essentially unarmed Americans, their Colonel surrendered. During the long walk to German prisoner of war camps, Trahan attempted to carry a close friend. He carried him as long as he could and then dropped him. He picked him up again and marched on. He’d drop him again and carry him as far as he could, each time for less distance.

Finally he had to leave his friend. To this day, he is haunted hearing his friend call his name.

The Germans weren’t providing much food to the captured Americans, but did allow them to forage turnips from farms. Trahan ate so many turnips he swore he’d never eat them again. Today 70 years has passed and he hasn’t eaten a single turnip since the war.

The Germans would line up prisoners and randomly shoot them without explanation. Day after day, Trahan expected it would be his turn. People behind him, in front of him, and next to him were shot seemingly at random.

At the fence of the prison camp, a Czechoslovakian girl told Trahan in French that the Americans were steadily getting closer. Trahan’s job in the prison camp was to work on the German railroad. Each day they would repair the railroad.

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Each night the American bombers would destroy it again. It seemed to be an endless cycle until finally one day the U.S. Army liberated the camp.

When Leo Trahan was returned to the United States, he was down to just 87 pounds. It took a year of careful attention to get him back to health. Part of that process was two weeks at a five star hotel in Miami where Trahan enjoyed the ability to eat and eat and eat. Before leaving the Army, Trahan was transferred to California where he won their sharp shooter competition.

After leaving the U.S. Army, Trahan returned to Port Arthur and Texaco.

We offer a big SETX Seniors thank-you to Leo Trahan and to all of our Golden Triangle veterans. We greatly appreciate the time Trahan and his daughter Patsy Peterson spent with us for this interview.

If you’re looking for more Golden Triangle veteran’s interviews, visit our website SETXSeniors.com.

If you’d like to nominate a local World War II veteran for an article in the magazine, please call (512) 567-8068 or EM SETXSeniors@gmail.com. We’d love to talk with them. All veteran interviews and articles are provided at no charge as a public service of SETX Seniors Magazine and SETXSeniors.com.

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SETX Senior Fun Guide You’ve worked hard your whole life. For Southeast Texas seniors, make this time of your life about having fun. Here are some great options in and near The Golden Triangle.

1. Visit the Destroyer USS Orleck. Whether you’re a Navy veteran or just looking for a cool activity, the USS Orleck has a lot to offer. The ship was originally launched right here in the Sabine River and saw service in Korean and Vietnam. Today SETX seniors can participate in restoration projects, take a tour, or bring their grandkids for lazer tag right on the ship. Orleck.org 2. Enjoy a live music brunch at Suga’s Deep South Cuisine in Beaumont. Suga’s has a first class Sunday brunch including Chicken and

Waffles, Pan Perdu, Shrimp and Grits, and their Soft Shelled Crab Eggs Benedict.

Enjoy a wonderful meal while you catch up with friends and enjoy wonderful live jazz. Great weather? Ask for patio seating. SugasDeepSouth.com. Find more great restaurant recommendations and specials on EatDrinkSETX.com.

3.Discover Dinosaurs at the Naranjo Museum. Lufkin now has its very own museum dedicated to educating Texans about the giants who once roamed the earth. See fossils, dinosaur skeletons, and even a moon rock.

NaranjoMuseum.org. Consider adding a visit to the Lufkin Zoo / Ellen Trout Zoo, one of the best small town zoos in the nation. If you have grandkids with you, bring them to ride the train. CityofLufkin.com/Zoo. 4. Beat the Heat at Moody Gardens in Galveston. If you love

Galveston but can’t take the heat any more, head indoors at Moody Gardens for their Aquarium Pyramid, Rainforest Pyramid, 3-D Movies, Dippin’ Dots, and more.

Moody Gardens.com. SETXSeniors.com Tip: Don’t miss The Gumbo Diner. 3602 Seawall Boulevard. Comfort food meets Gulf Coast favorites.

TheGumboDinner.com (Yes, it’s really spelled that way).

5. Visit Caddo Lake State Park. Caddo Lake Park is like stepping back

in time. Reserve a cabin and let your cares melt away. TPWD.Texas.Gov Complete the time machine experience with by taking a tour of the lake with the Caddo Lake Steamboat Company. (903) 789-2238. GracefulGhost.com.

Bonus Tip - Head to Houston for their monthly Audobon Society Trips for Seniors. Meet at a central location and enjoy a bus trip to prime birding locations complete with an expert guide. Locations vary monthly. Get all the details on HoustonSenior.org.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this edition’s SETX Senior Fun Guide. Look for more great activities on SETXSeniors.com - over four hundred local articles each year for Golden Triangle Seniors.

SETXSeniors.com is your online Southeast Texas Senior Magazine.

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Mid County Assisted Living - Cypress Glen As much as Southeast Texans love our homes, there often comes a time when we need a little assistance from others. For Mid County, Cypress Glen Nursing and Rehabilitation Center is right here in the community when you need a place you can receive extra help.

For some, a few days or weeks after a surgical procedure or illness is all they need.

Cypress Glen is a full service rehabilitation center offering on site: Physical Conditioning Speech Pathology and Therapy Physical Therapy Occupational Therapy Pain Management Others make Cypress Glen Home. Cypress Glen offers excellent meals, a wide range of activities, and staff members who are selected for their smiles and compassion for residents as well as their special training.

Whether your stay is short term or long term, you’ll be comfortable and cared for at Cypress Glen in Port Arthur.

Services for Mid County seniors include: Nutritional management (gain weight, lose weight, diabetes management) 24 hour nursing care Fellowship activities Full diagnostic coordination Case management and services Discharge planning Cypress Glen is focused on making every day memorable and enjoyable for their short-term and long-term residents.

Is Cypress Glen Nursing and Rehabilitation Center just right for you?

Schedule a visit to find out.

The staff at Cypress Glen would like to answer all of your questions, hear about any special needs you or your loved one have, and talk to you about a plan to make your stay everything it can be.

At Cypress Glen, working with Mid County seniors and their families is what it is all about.

Whether you’re staying for a few days or long-term, they want Cypress Glen to feel like home.

Cypress Glen Nursing and Rehabilitation (409) 729-8701 7200 9th Avenue in Port Arthur Say, “I saw it in SETX Seniors Guide”

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Introducing Medical Plus Medical Supply Deliveries Across Southeast Texas One day your doctor is going to start recommending a few purchases to make things easier around the house. Some of them he’ll probably insist on to the point of writing you a prescription. When he does, don’t worry there is a company dedicated to making these purchases convenient and easy for seniors in the Golden Triangle. Most importantly, they will deliver everything right to your home. The company is Medical Plus in Beaumont. The specialize in carrying all of the medical supplies and special furniture and equipment that seniors need from lift chairs to medical oxygen and everything in between. One call to Medical Plus gets your medical supplies on their way to your door. The friendly staff at Medical Plus will even set up the item exactly where you want it. Some parts of aging aren’t easy. We all remember a time we didn’t need a walker or special chair in the shower.

When we do need them, it is hard to argue that some specialty medical items make aging a little easier. When you need any kind of medical supplies, call Medical Plus in Beaumont to have them delivered to your home. Don’t worry if you think the item is hard to find Medical Plus can get it for you.

Medical Plus Beaumont Walkers and Walking Aids Lift Chairs Shower 650 Magnolia St in Beaumont Safety Accessories Medical beds Wheelchairs Medical Oxygen Blood Pressure Monitors (409) 838-6700 Pulse Oximeters Diabetic Supplies

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Tips on Choosing Assisted Living Facility Southeast Texans put a lot of care in choosing our first home. We tour the neighborhood several times, we investigate the builder, and we interview our potential neighbors. We get reports on the school district and we have someone check the foundation for cracks or warning signs.

Why aren’t we putting the same amount of effort into choosing an assisted living facility for ourselves or our loved ones? When we’re contemplating our first home, we’re young, strong, and independent. When we choose an assisted living facility, for ourselves or for a loved one, we go into it knowing we need to depend on others more and more frequently. If you’re considering choosing an assisted living facility in the Golden Triangle here are some tips: Don’t expect to make a decision today. Unless the first facility you visit blows you away, plan on making this a process involving in person visits to three or more facilities.

Make an unscheduled visit. Friends and family members of seniors pop in all the time.

Make an unscheduled visit and observe the flow of the facility. Are residents happy? Does the staff proactively engage them? Check the activity calendar and make a follow up visit to see how the residents engage during activities.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions during your scheduled visit. You’re the buyer - make the facility earn your trust. Do you or your loved one have special needs? Be open with the staff and ask questions about how they’d respond to different situations.

Location, location, location. The closer the facility is to key family and friends, the more often they will visit. You want the right facility absolutely, but proximity to family is a big part of the equation. For most seniors, the most frequent visitors will be your grown children. If you live in Port Neches and they live in Lumberton or vice versa, consider choosing a facility near the family members who will visit you most.

Finally, once you’ve chosen a facility make it your home. For yourself or your loved one, schedule the family room for birthday parties and family celebrations. Decorate your room with things that make it feel comfortable and familiar - your wedding photo, pictures of grandchildren, and a few special pieces of furniture (space permitting). When you’re choosing a Southeast Texas assisted living facility, take the same care you did when you were choosing your first home.

Are you or your family in the Mid County area? Consider a visit to Cypress Glen Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.Cypress Glen is conveniently located at 7200 9th Avenue in Port Arthur.

The staff spends a great deal of time celebrating their residents and engaging them in activities throughout the day. Private and semi-private rooms are available.

Cypress Glen Nursing & Rehabilitation Center Skilled Nursing Faciity Private and Semi-Private Rooms Daily Housekeeping and Laundry Service Private Dining Room for Family Celebrations Rehabilitation Services S H O R T A N D L O N G T E R M R E H A B I L I TAT I O N C A R E

Schedule Your Visit Today.

7200 9th Ave Port Arthur

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Don Allen Sports Day Many of our SETX Seniors Magazine readers know the community of Wildwood well. Located in the Big Thicket area between Kountze and Woodville on Highway 69, Wildwood Resort City has long been a retirement village for Southeast Texas seniors.

Offering golf, watersports, and a laid back pace of life in a gated community, Wildwood offers a nice quality of life for Golden Triangle retirees. Once a year, the community reserves their waterfront for a special event for special needs children, “Don Allen Sports Day”.

Special Needs children come from across Southeast Texas and Southwest Louisiana to enjoy: Hand bikes Fishing Tours of Lake Kimball Jet skiing Horse and pony rides Golf Paintball Lunch Kayaking Hayride Baseball

If you have grandchildren or neighbors with special needs, let them know about Wildwood Sports Day. They will be welcomed and enjoy a great experience.

This year’s event will be May 6, 2015 Registration 8am Event 9am - 4pm Print a registration form from their website All admission, events, and lunch are free If you’d like to volunteer or sponsor an event contact: Jesse Munoz. Program Coordinator. (409) 658-8286 or MunozJess@aol.com Dan Shaddock. Fundraising Chair. (409) 834-0317 or DanShaddock@gmail.com Find out more about Don Allen Wildwood Sports Day on their website WildwoodSports.org.

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Planning Your Final Celebration Are you one of the people who looks at pre-planning your funeral as a chance to throw one last celebration for your friends and family? It is becoming a popular outlook.

Planning your funeral is one last chance to put your signature stamp on an event that those closest to you will long remember.

Some of the personal touches SETX seniors are including in their funeral planning include: Chinese lantern release.

In addition to being beautiful, many feel releasing a floating lantern at a loved one’s funeral assists in achieving closure, a chance to say goodbye as their prayers and thoughts ascend towards the heavens.

If your funeral will be held earlier in the day, consider a butterfly release instead.

They are similarly beautiful and can provide that same feeling of closure.

Funeral bagpiper. There is a lot of Scottish and Irish ancestry in the Golden

Triangle. For others, bagpipes perfectly capture the mood. I attended the funeral of an Irish friend who passed unexpectedly. His pre-planning touches, including the bagpiper made it feel like he was right there with us.

Leaving a story behind. Whether you were known as a storyteller or if you’ve left too many things unsaid, leaving a personal story or letter to be read can really mean a lot to friends and loved ones. Tell your children how proud you are of them. Tell your spouse how much you value spending your life with them. Tell someone who needs it that you forgive them. Everyone appreciates one more, “I always loved you.”

Music. Is music a big part of your life or of your relationship with friends and

family? Incorporate music into your ceremony. The first dance song from your wedding, a personally meaningful hymn, or even a silly pop song that you and your kids sang in the car on road trips can evoke powerful memories.

What have you shared most with close friends and family?

For many of us, it is food. Were you known for your ribs or your chocolate pie or your gumbo? Prepare the exact recipe and share it with a caterer or relative. They can incorporate it into your final celebration.

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Coming to your funeral isn’t something people have to do. It’s something we want to do. We want the opportunity remember the good times with you and to say goodbye. We want you to know that we loved you and to know that you loved us. The more of you that is incorporated into the ceremony the more loved ones will connect with you one last time.

Are you looking for someone to help you plan your final celebration? Adam Strahan and his team at Lumberton Family Funeral Home specialize in helping Southeast Texans put their personal touches on funeral planning. Just as importantly, they are committed to working with your budget and to minimizing stress on your family.

Call today for a consultation.

Lumberton Family Funeral Home (409) 751-0390 LumbertonFamily.com Adam Strahan, Owner ACStrahan@Live.com

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SETXSeniors.com Over 500 Articles per year for seniors in the Golden Triangle.

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2015

Seniors resource guide www.SETXSeniors.com