Faces of Service: Chaplain Gordon Jardy 

For Chaplain Gordon V. Jardy, recognizing veterans means more than simply thanking them for their service. It means ensuring they feel seen, understood and supported—especially during some of life’s most difficult moments. 

That commitment inspired Chaplain Gordon to establish the Veterans Visiting Veterans program at University Hospitals Elyria Medical Center. Launched in collaboration with the Lorain County Veterans Service Commission on September 9, 2024, the program ensures that veterans receiving care at the hospital are personally recognized and connected with valuable resources. 

Chaplain Gordon had witnessed the impact of similar programs while serving at other University Hospitals facilities. Drawing on their experiences and existing resources, he worked with hospital leadership and community partners to develop a program tailored to veterans and their families in Lorain and Cuyahoga counties. 

The concept is simple but powerful: veterans supporting fellow veterans. 

Eight military veterans serve as hospital volunteers, visiting veteran patients admitted to UH Elyria Medical Center. These volunteers offer companionship, encouragement and an immediate sense of connection grounded in their shared experience of military service. 

“Veterans speak a language that non-veterans can’t begin to speak,” Chaplain Gordon explained. “And so there’s that connecting, emotional attachment that our Veteran Volunteers have with our Veteran patients that is so very special and meaningful.” 

That bond can make a remarkable difference in a patient’s hospital experience. Veterans who may be hesitant to share their concerns with others will often open up when speaking with someone who understands the culture, sacrifices and challenges associated with military service. 

One nurse recalled a veteran patient who had been withdrawn and unwilling to engage with the medical staff. After volunteers from Veterans Visiting Veterans spent time with him, the change was unmistakable. 

“He had his veteran hat on, and he was smiling,” the nurse shared. “It was as if he had been revived; the medical staff couldn’t believe this was the same person.” 

From the program’s launch on September 9, 2024, through August 5, 2026, its volunteers visited an extraordinary 2,120 veteran patients and 741 family members. 

Each veteran patient receives a patriotic, monogrammed bag containing items intended to provide comfort during the hospital stay and continued support after discharge. Depending on availability, these gifts may include a handmade red, white and blue lap blanket or quilt, an American flag with a stand, a branch-specific magnet for the patient’s hospital room, a personalized greeting card and several useful personal items. 

More importantly, the bags contain information connecting veterans and their families with federal, state and local resources. These include county veterans service organizations, financial assistance, Veterans Affairs benefits support, mental health and crisis services, home-care assistance and programs that help fulfill the wishes of disabled or terminally ill veterans. 

NEOPAT is honored to be among the organizations included in these resources, helping veterans and military families learn about assistance available for emergencies, wellness and mental health needs. 

The partnership with the Lorain County Veterans Service Commission makes the UH Elyria program especially effective. According to Chaplain Gordon, the connection allows veterans to receive information and support that can improve their circumstances well beyond their hospitalization. 

“They have provided a lot of things so that we can give our veteran patients and their families the things that can benefit them—not just during their stay in the hospital, but even more importantly, when they are discharged and go back into their local communities,” he said. “The things that can make their situation much, much better.” 

Chaplain Gordon also helps create opportunities for the entire hospital community to recognize military service and sacrifice. On May 22, 2026, he organized a Memorial Day weekend ceremony at UH Elyria Medical Center attended by caregivers, patients and visitors. 

Following the presentation of the colors by representatives of several branches of the United States military, Chaplain Gordon called for a moment of silence honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice. 

“A moment is the least we can do for those who have given eternity for us,” he said. 

The Veterans Visiting Veterans program’s impact has also gained recognition throughout the community, with its work featured by both The Morning Journal and The Chronicle-Telegram. As it entered its second year, the program was highlighted on the front page of The Chronicle-Telegram alongside a photograph of a veteran volunteer making his rounds with the program’s supply cart. 

The program continues to welcome community support, including donations of red, white and blue yarn and handmade patriotic lap blankets and quilts. These gifts provide veteran patients with a tangible reminder that their service is remembered and that their community continues to stand beside them. 

Through his compassion, leadership and ability to bring people together, Chaplain Gordon Jardy has created far more than a hospital visitation program. He has built a network of veterans, caregivers and community partners committed to continuing the mission of service. 

NEOPAT is proud to recognize Chaplain Gordon Jardy as a Faces of Service honoree for ensuring that thousands of veterans and their family members feel seen, valued and connected to the support they have earned. 

“Veterans speak a language that non-veterans can’t begin to speak. And so there’s that connecting, emotional attachment that our Veteran Volunteers have with our Veteran patients that is so very special and meaningful.” 
— Chaplain Gordon V. Jardy