A Flag Flown High For D-Day Veteran’s “Gift of a Day”

During June 6, 1944, better known as “D-Day,” Joseph Zigovits was a Chief Yeoman for the United States Navy. Typing direct orders from famed admirals John E. Wilkes and Don P. Moon for an entire fleet, Zigovits proudly remembers serving his country during the Battle of Normandy and throughout World War II.

Now a 93-year-old Crossroads patient at his home in Oxford, Ohio, Zigovits is a proud Veteran. His care team often asks him to recount his experiences in the Navy and to go through the scrapbooks of pictures he took during his time at war. Although he has been honored through Crossroads’ “Veteran’s Recognition” program, his care team and family knew that on his perfect day he should be commemorated for his service once again.

To give Zigovits this “Gift of a Day,” Crossroads staff arranged for a special American flag to be flown over the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. to honor the Ohio native. They also arranged for a picture of Zigovits while in service to be displayed along with the flag at the World War II monument in our nation’s capital.

That flag and a photo of the display were delivered to Crossroads and presented to the Veteran in a special ceremony, along with a certificate of thanks from Senator Sherrod Brown. Zigovits’s daughter and granddaughter joined staff members for the presentation and refreshments.

“This gift was very meaningful to Mr. Zigovits because his time in World War II still means a lot to him” said Gretchen Eagle, Volunteer Manager at Crossroads Hospice in Cincinnati. “We always love hearing about his experiences and looking through his scrapbooks, so it was a pleasure to thank him for his service this way.”

Thanks to this exceptional day, Zigovits has a few more special items to help him commemorate his years of service to our country.

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