FROM THE ACL TEAM

Honoring Our Veterans during Older Americans Month

This Older Americans Month, the Administration for Community Living (ACL) is celebrating the 

strength of older Americans. The lived experiences of older adults, including their contributions and 

sacrifices, have helped them to build resilience and skills that they now share with their friends,

families, and communities.

There is perhaps no greater example of this than our older American veterans. Here, we share a 

few veterans’ stories and honor their service, commitment, and dedication to their country and 

communities. ACL staff who submitted these stories would like to thank the family and friends that

provided write-ups so that we could honor their loved ones.

Allen Reynolds 

Submitted by Keri Lipperini, Director, Office of Nutrition and Health Promotion Programs

Allen Reynolds was 18 years old when he enlisted in the Army in 

1969 during the Vietnam War. He served as a clerk SP5 (today’s 

equivalent of Sergeant) until his honorable discharge in 1972. He 

often said that those three years made him into the disciplined, 

fearless, humble, and compassionate person he would become.

After leaving the Army, Allen returned to his community in 

Maryland and earned degrees in sociology and clinical 

psychology, and eventually his PhD in psychology. He became a 

licensed clinical professional counselor and used his skills to 

serve his community as an advocate for its most vulnerable 

members – children, adults with disabilities, older adults, and 

those suffering from severe mental illness. He took special 

interest in his fellow veterans, particularly those experiencing 

PTSD and other disabilities, often volunteering his personal 

assistance when individuals had difficulty finding help.

In his later years, he continued to find ways to help his community. He became the director of a 

public mental health clinic, a consultant for a medical community-based day program for adults, and 

a court-appointed family mediator, a role he continued even after retirement.

Dedicated to helping others throughout his life, Allen continually asked himself, “How can I show 

love today? How can I serve?”
Lucy Conklin

Submitted by Andrea Callow, Program Analyst

Lucy Conklin was 21 years old when she enlisted as an 

Army nurse in 1943 during World War II. After completing 

her nursing training in Fort Custer, Michigan, she shipped 

off to the South Pacific Islands as a member of the 49th

Hospital Unit. She served in Manila and Leyte in the 

Philippines.

Lucy joined the Army committed to helping in whatever 

way she could. Going wherever they were most needed, 

Lucy and her unit found themselves serving patients out of 

a makeshift station in a convent and even a horseracing 

club. They worked tirelessly to keep their hospital clean 

and prepared for any situation.

Later in life, Lucy shared that despite all her training, she often felt frustrated that she couldn’t do 

more, especially for the injured soldiers that she treated as best she could with what was available 

to her. Still there were sleepless nights worrying over her patients’ comfort and well-being.

After the war, Lucy returned to Michigan and continued to work as a nurse in a local doctor’s office, 

once again supporting her community by doing whatever she could for those in need. She found 

her wartime nursing training especially useful in treating many of the childhood illnesses and 

ailments of her 8 children and 17 grandchildren.

Garrick R. Hendricks 

Submitted by Donna Bethge, Aging Services Program Specialist

Garrick R. Hendricks served with honor in the Army for 15 years 

as a Staff Sergeant. He was stationed all over the world, 

including, Germany, Alaska, Colorado, and Maryland. His 

dedication to his country was unwavering. After retiring from the 

Army, he turned that dedication and a lifelong passion for 

helping others toward serving his community.

Garrick began his second career as a public servant as a

County Tech with the Calvert County Election Board in 

Maryland in 2004. A year later, he was appointed as Elections 

Systems Automation Coordinator. In this role, he oversaw the 

implementation of touchscreen voting machines and electronic 

pollbooks for the entire county, ensuring that voters had their 

voices heard – another passion he carried with him throughout 

his career.

Garrick’s love for his community shone through with everything he did. His willingness to go above 

and beyond for his family, friends, neighbors, and coworkers was continually recognized by those 

around him.

He also understood the importance of joy and laughter and his sense of humor was famous for 

making all smile, even during the most stressful of times. In this way, he served his community 

through good times and bad, and taught resilience to those around him by his example.