GOOD NEWS

Local hero receives medals after inclusion in Who's Who

The staff of Colonial Hills Nursing Center in Maryville recently proved the old adage, "You're never too old," especially to enjoy receiving an award.

Charlie Pickel, an 85-year-old patient at Colonial Hills, was awarded five U.S. Army medals during Nursing Home Week this year. The former war veteran didn't even realize he had earned the medals during his three-year stint as a rifle marksman. Libby Sadler, medical records manager at the facility, discovered the unknown honors during her research to nominate Pickel for THCA's Who's Who in Tennessee Nursing Homes, an annual program designed to recognize the historic accomplishments of nursing home patients.

Sadler learned from Pickel that he had served during World War II but did not receive any medals. As the daughter of a career Navy man, she thought that was unusual and contacted the U.S. Army for Pickel's service record. Once she discovered the honors, she worked with an Army official to arrange delivery of the medals during Nursing Home Week, an annual celebration held May 12-18. She also planned a presentation ceremony involving the whole facility to honor the man she says has been a great friend since he moved to Colonial Hills seven years ago.

"He had a wonderful morning," Sadler said of Pickel, who was surprised to see so many people at the ceremony. "I've known him for so long. That's the main reason I wanted to do it. I spoke with him (about the Who's Who project), and he was really excited about it, so I thought, 'If we're going to do it, lets do it right.'"

About 80 people, including two of Pickel's children, several of his grandchildren and reporters from the Maryville Daily Times and WBIR-TV, attended the ceremony to see Pickel receive his five medals and Who's Who certificate. He received an Army service ribbon, decorations and citations, the European-African-Middle Eastern (EAME) theater ribbon with three bronze service stars, a World War II victory medal and an Army lapel button.

Before heading off to war at the age of 25, Pickel's voice was heard throughout East Tennessee as a back-up singer and guitar picker on the "Midday Merry-Go-Round," a popular radio show starting in the 1930s. During World War II, Pickel was a member of the 591st Engineering Boat Regiment, serving in England, North Africa, Italy and France, where he supervised a German war camp. After returning home, he became a radio broadcaster at various Tennessee radio stations, including WBIR, where he and his wife, Marie, were married live on the radio. Pickel retired in 1984 from WEAG in Maryville as station manager and news director.

This year, THCA's Who's Who program recognized 78 nursing home patients throughout the state.
 

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“Good News” is a feature designed to spotlight some of the many positive aspects of long-term care in Tennessee. Know of a “good news”  item? Contact THCA’s Communications Department at info@thca.org.