Planning to say goodbye to a loved one during their final days is never easy, especially when they’ve dedicated their lives to the service of others.

“This is Dad, this is my favorite military picture of him because I think he was really good looking,” said Sarah Rivas as she looked at an old photo of her Dad.

When she looks through her father’s old military memorabilia, she can’t help but feel a sense of pride.

“He always says he shouldn’t have come back and those people that did not make it were the real heroes,” she said.

Her father, U.S. Army Veteran Sam Agliano, bravely served in World War II.

“Very sad for him to return, the times he returned to Europe for vacations and would go to the cemeteries. It was very hard for him, even for me thinking about it. But it was a part of his life and it made him who he was,” Sarah said.

Her father died this past January.

He was almost 98 years old.

She visited him every day, and was there nearly every moment for four days while he spent time at Melech Hospice House.

In his final days, as part of the newly initiated Valor Program, Chapters Health System did something special.

“They had a plaque by his door with his name and his line of service that he was in. They came in and they presented him and the family with a certificate of honor and they have a little pinning ceremony that they do for their valor program,” said Sarah.

The Valor Program honors both veterans and first responders, something the program’s director Maxine Reyes says is very unique.

“Most programs that honor veterans, honor veterans only,” Reyes said.

Reyes says many time veterans and first responders haven’t experienced honors since their service.

“They serve and they go back to normal life and it’s because of the Valor program that some of them have gotten any appreciation since their service,” said Reyes.

For Sarah, seeing her father’s service honored in his final chapter of life is something she’ll cherish forever.

“It makes the passing even more special when we can all share in the honor of their service,” she said.

Along with pinnings, honor walks, and Valor Cafes, Chapters Health System’s Valor Program is gearing up for a very special event this October.

The American Veterans Traveling Tribute Wall will be set up at Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park for a week long celebration.

The wall is an 80% scale replica of the Vietnam War Memorial Wall in Washington DC.

For more information, click here.