In honor of Veterans Day, Colonel Charles Richardson put on his uniform and sat down with us to discuss his incredible military career in the US Air Force and Army.
Charles, now a resident at The Bristal alongside his wife, told us he has given dozens of speeches on Veterans Day over the years. He began his interview with a powerful statement, "Because there are veterans, there is freedom."
Charles's Military Experience:
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Charles first served in the US Air Force from 1954-1958. After his service in the Air Force, he attended college and was then ordained as a Methodist Minister by the Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta.
Charles then went on to join the Army in 1966. In 1970, he was sent to Vietnam to serve as Chaplain to an aviation battalion. Charles performed religious services for the battalion, traveled with them, and provided them with guidance and support.
One day Charles was catching a ride in a helicopter to perform services at another camp when the helicopter was shot down. Miraculously all six men onboard survived. "We walked away with just a few scratches," Charles says with a smile. His Chaplain's Box, that he still owns today, was with him on the helicopter.
After his time in Vietnam, Charles remained in the reserves until 1992. Thank you for your service, Colonel Charles Richardson.
Hear Charles tell his story:
It's an Honor to Serve those Who Served
The Bristal is proud to support our Hometown Heroes, those brave men and women who dedicated their lives to keeping us safe and protecting our freedom.
To learn more about how veterans benefits can be used to help pay for assisted living, please read our VA Benefits Guide. To read about people who live at The Bristal who have served our country proudly, please read this article profiling a few of our residents.
For more information about the discounted, special rate we offer to all of our Hometown Heroes, please contact one of our communities for information.
