Veterans Day is a time when many pause to think about those who served our nation by facing the enemy and putting their lives on the line in combat. However, there are countless others who may never have fired a shot or been at the front lines but served in other critical ways such as nurses and medical staff members. Margaret “Jane” Dye was among those individuals. She graduated from Georgetown University’s School of Nursing in 1944, worked in surgery for some time and then at 21, made the decision with a close friend from school to join the Army. She helped many soldiers and ended up marrying one of them after the war was over. Dye and her friend appreciated the way the nurses were given officers’ ranks to ensure that they were respected on the bases, and they both held the title of Second Lieutenant. Now 91 years old and retired at The Legacy Willow Bend life care community in Plano, she looks back on her time serving and hopes other fellow veterans do the same this Veterans Day. Dye wants all who have served to realize the impact they made regardless of the role they played or the length of their service.
“It’s interesting to me to read about and watch all the different movies about World War II, having been directly involved,” said Dye. “I don’t think any of us serving really understood how significant it was at the time or how important we, ourselves, actually were. To be right in the middle of it required that we simply had to accept the reality of the situation and do what we had to do in that moment.”
Because the war was almost over by the time she joined, she did not have to go overseas. Instead, she went to Camp Lee, now Fort Lee, in Virginia and ended up meeting her husband there. Officers and noncommissioned officers were there to be trained in the art of military supply and service. Camp Lee was the major Quartermaster field installation and out-processing center for those leaving the military. Dye helped set lots of broken bones and assisted with various injuries and surgeries at Camp Lee.
“Even though we were not among those fighting overseas, we did what had to be done,” described Dye. “We took care of those who had been fighting and did our part with the doctors to help them heal.”
Looking back on her own service and on those who faced difficult circumstances during wartime, she believes that each person played a tremendous role. She will always be proud of her husband’s service during WWII. He passed away after 56 years of marriage, and his ashes were taken to Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors. She said that she can proudly join him there because of her own service.
“The stories that our members share about their military service is particularly meaningful” said Marilyn Israel, executive director of The Legacy Willow Bend. “Listening to them and honoring those who have served also pays tribute to a time in our country’s history that binds us together. We believe in showing our senior members here the respect and appreciation they deserve for their service to our nation.”
The Legacy Willow Bend hosted a special program in honor of Veterans Day at the community on to honor to those who served. A group of students with the JROTC from Plano West came to post the colors and say the pledge, and a senior from the JROTC group spoke about his experience in the program and discussed his future plans. The JROTC also closed with a special presentation of a certificate to each individual veteran.
ABOUT THE LEGACY WILLOW BEND
The Legacy Willow Bend, Plano’s first and only life care retirement community, is situated on a 28-acre site at Spring Creek Parkway between Preston Road and Ohio Drive. The Legacy Willow Bend offers resort-style services and amenities for active, independent seniors, as well as all levels of health care services on-site. The community features 103 independent living apartment homes, 12 custom independent living villas, 40 assisted living apartment homes, 18 memory support suites, and 60 private skilled healthcare suites.
The Legacy Willow Bend is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit retirement community owned by parent company, The Legacy Senior Communities, Inc. The Legacy Willow Bend, the only Jewish-sponsored life care retirement community in Texas, is open to people of all faiths. For information, call (972) 468-6208, or visit www.thelegacyWB.org.
Image courtesy of The Legacy Willow Bend
Image 1: Mrs. Jane Dye at The Legacy Willow Bend with her photo from service