Dan Shroyer continues his life of service as a volunteer for Ohio’s Community Mercy Hospice, recognizing patients who are Veterans through the American Pride® Veteran Care by Ohio’s Hospice program, which honors the service of Veteran patients and assures them of receiving the highest quality of care.  

In addition to celebrating and thanking Veterans for their service, American Pride assists patients in obtaining access to all the benefits to which Veterans are eligible, provides spiritual support, and addresses individual post-traumatic stress issues.  

Through this program, Shroyer and other Veteran volunteers recognize patients, honoring and celebrating their lives through participation in Veteran recognition ceremonies.  

“It gives me extreme pleasure to see families’ reactions when I honor their Veteran,” Shroyer said. “These past five years of recognizing Veterans have gone by fast, and I hope to have the privilege of continuing this for many more years.” 

Having served more than 22 years in the U.S. Marine Corps, Air National Guard, and Army Reserve, Shroyer felt drawn to give back to Veterans as a volunteer and give respect to them during their last days of life. In addition to volunteering with Ohio’s Community Mercy Hospice, Shroyer provides military honors for Veteran burial services and life celebrations in Clark County. 

Earlier this year, Shroyer won a gold medal and a bronze medal in the National Veterans Golden Age Games, a qualifying event for the National Senior Games, in Des Moines, Iowa. Shroyer is an avid pickleball player and chose to participate in the pickleball competition as well as the discus throw. He had the winning throw of 15.81 meters. 

Shroyer’s wife, Maxine, also volunteers with Ohio’s Community Mercy Hospice. She provides caregiver relief and spends time with patients.  

“We decided to join Ohio’s Community Mercy Hospice as volunteers after our 43-year-old son died unexpectedly,” Shroyer said. “Other than immediate family, there was no one else to help. We felt the need to help others when in need.” 

The Ohio’s Community Mercy Hospice Veteran volunteer team includes seven Veterans. Tami Clark, volunteer coordinator, said the team members have outstanding passion, loyalty and devotion in caring for the Veterans they have the privilege of serving.  

“After a recent Veteran recognition ceremony that Dan was called to do for a Veteran patient, the family, who had 25 members in attendance, all applauded Dan,” Clark said. “We’re grateful for Dan’s commitment to serving our Veteran patients. We thank him for his support of our mission.”