Navy WAVE, 93, among veterans honored
Anne Finnen is one of over 80,000 WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) who helped lay the foundation for Navy missions during World War II.
The 93-year-old veteran and resident of Beechwood Court Personal Care Home in Uniontown recalled how she cared for wounded soldiers at hospitals in Philadelphia and Bethesda, Maryland, during her service.
“Sometimes they would go to the operating room and never come out,” Finnen said. “I can still remember every one of their names. It’s something that you don’t forget that easily.”
Finnen was among 10 veterans who reside in Beechwood Court recently recognized for their military service with a certificate and pin by Albert Gallatin Amedisys Hospice.
Members of the Hopwood Amvets Post 104 honor guard also took part in the ceremony with the presentation of colors.
“I think it’s so important that so many veterans die each day and many have never been thanked,” said Rosemary Hardy, Amedisys volunteer coordinator.
Aside from Finnen, other veterans honored included Andrew Kokolis, George Matich, Joseph Mazak and Walter McMillen, United States Army; Charles Gatts, Charles Riley and Philip Appolonia, United States Navy; Lawrence Krizner, United States Marines, and Jospeh Girard for auxiliary service in the Merchant Marines.
The WAVES program was created in August 1942 in response to the need for additional military personnel during World War II.
WAVES were trained to perform secretarial and clerical functions and later held positions as photographers, intelligence personnel, control tower operators and aviation mechanics.
A native of Brooklyn, New York, Finnen enlisted with the WAVES as soon as the war broke out to be closer to her fiancee and late husband, Joseph Finnen, who was deployed by the Navy overseas.
“I’m patriotic,” said Finnen.
From the time she was young, Finnen said she “wanted to be somebody” while her love for ballet and tap dancing initially led her to audition for the Rockettes.
Although she didn’t make it, Finnen kept at it as she went on to try out for a musical to perform on stage with legendary singers Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby, but instead ended up doing stage production in New York.
But even that couldn’t top Finnen’s greatest claim to fame, which she said is having seven children. She also has nine grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
Finnen and her late husband moved to Lady Lake, Florida, following retirement where she joined the Lady Lake Honor Guard.
She moved to California, Pennsylvania, about six years ago and has been a resident of Beechwood Court for the last two years.
The ceremony was part of Amedisys’ “We Honor Veterans: Hospice Professionals on a Mission to Serve” program developed by the National Hospice and Pallative Care Organization and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
The program specializes in end-of-life care for veterans such as veteran-to-veteran volunteer programs, individualized salutes, honoring events and memorial ceremonies.
Amedysis also presented Finnen with a storyboard featuring photos about her life.