- November 4, 2024
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Like the three wise men gifted baby Jesus with gold, frankincense and myrrh, three honor guard members from the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8696 presented Palm Coast resident Dorothy Bentien with three gifts of her own on her 100th birthday on June 19.
At the birthday party, which was organized by Chiumento Dwyer Hertel Grant and Kistemaker, P.L. (as Bentien is a longtime client of Mike Chiumento), Palm Coast’s VFW honor guard members Johnny Vidota, Tom Piekarski and Nemo Farmer honored their fellow veteran by gifting her a letter of commendation from the National VFW chapter in Washington, D.C. and two medals that were framed with black velvet — one for being in the U.S. Navy and the other of a VFW dog tag. Each took a moment to individually salute Bentien after presenting her with the gifts.
Bentien retired from the U.S. Navy as a chief petty officer after serving during the Korean War. She has lived in Palm Coast since 1981. After Hurricane Irma, she has resided in the Brookdale assisted-living facility in Palm Coast.
A room full of Brookdale residents and friends of Bentien’s gathered with cake and decorations on Tuesday to celebrate Bentien being “21 with 79 years of experience,” as a customized necklace she wore read.