Salute to Service

Tom Walker

Master Sergeant

Tom Walker

Master Sergeant

Master Sergeant Thomas “Tom” Walker dedicated over 22 years of his life to serving in the United States Air Force. A proud veteran of both the Gulf War and Operation Enduring Freedom, Jim was known for his steadfast leadership, calm under pressure, and unwavering commitment to his fellow airmen. He retired with honors, but his sense of service never wavered—he continued to mentor young veterans and volunteer in his community for many years.

Jim was a devoted husband to his wife of 45 years, Carol, whom he met while stationed in Texas. Together, they built a life rooted in love, faith, and shared purpose. Jim was a loving father to three children—Michael, Laura, and Daniel—and a proud grandfather to six grandchildren who lovingly called him “Pops.” He was happiest when surrounded by his family, whether camping in the mountains, working on his classic Ford truck, or grilling his famous barbecue ribs.

In his final months, Jim was cared for by the compassionate hospice team at Elara Caring Hospice in El Paso. Their kindness, professionalism, and deep respect for Jim’s service brought peace and dignity to his final days. They not only cared for his medical needs but became a source of strength and comfort for the entire Walker family.

Jim faced his final chapter with the same courage and grace that defined his life. His legacy of service, integrity, and love will live on in the hearts of all who knew him. Through the Salute to Service initiative, we honor his memory and express our deep gratitude—not only for his military service, but for the life he lived so fully and the example he set for generations to come. Rest in peace, Master Sergeant Walker. You are deeply missed.

Sarah Thompson

Army

Sarah Thompson

Army

Lieutenant Margaret “Maggie” Reynolds answered the call to serve not with a weapon, but with compassion, courage, and a nurse’s steady hands. Born in 1920 in a small farming town in Iowa, Maggie grew up during the Great Depression, the daughter of schoolteachers who taught her the values of hard work, service, and kindness. She dreamed of being a nurse from an early age, often helping her mother care for sick neighbors and tending to her younger siblings.

After earning her nursing degree in 1942, Maggie enlisted in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps. It was the height of World War II, and America needed women like her—brave, skilled, and unafraid of the front lines. She completed her basic training and was soon deployed to a field hospital in North Africa, and later, to Italy, where she served with the 15th Evacuation Hospital.

Maggie treated soldiers fresh from the battlefield, often working in tents with dirt floors and under constant threat of enemy fire. Her days were long, grueling, and emotionally demanding, yet she never wavered. Colleagues recalled her as calm in chaos, a source of strength to young soldiers who arrived broken, scared, and far from home. She wrote letters for the wounded, held hands during surgeries, and sometimes simply sat with a patient as he drifted off to sleep, offering comfort with her presence.

After the war ended, Maggie returned home to Iowa, where she continued her career in nursing. In 1948, she married John Reynolds, a fellow veteran who had served in the Navy. Together, they raised four children—Anne, Peter, Robert, and Lucy—and eventually welcomed nine grandchildren. Maggie continued to work in hospitals and later taught nursing at a community college, inspiring countless young women to follow in her footsteps.

Outside of work, Maggie was known for her vibrant rose garden, her homemade apple pie, and her deep love for music. She played piano at church services for over 30 years and was a faithful member of her community. Maggie never boasted about her wartime service, but when asked, she would smile softly and say, “I just did what needed to be done.”

In her later years, Maggie was diagnosed with heart failure. As her condition progressed, her family made the difficult decision to call in hospice care. It was then that the team from Silver Valley Hospice became part of Maggie’s final chapter. With tenderness and respect, they helped ensure her days were filled with comfort and dignity. They listened to her stories—some told for the first time—about soldiers she had nursed, friendships she had made, and losses she had carried quietly for decades.

The hospice staff made it possible for Maggie to stay at home, surrounded by her family and the blooming roses she had loved for so many years. Her great-grandchildren visited often, sitting at her feet as she told stories about “the old days,” and her daughters took turns playing her favorite hymns on the piano. The hospice nurses managed her pain, supported the family emotionally, and brought peace into a time that could have been marked only by sorrow.

Maggie passed away peacefully at the age of 94, with sunlight pouring through her living room window and her children at her side. In her final days, she reminded her family of the importance of service, of choosing kindness even in difficult times, and of living a life rooted in love.

Through the Salute to Service initiative, we remember and honor Lieutenant Margaret Reynolds not only for her extraordinary service during World War II, but for a life lived with quiet heroism every single day. She healed, she taught, she loved—and she left a legacy that continues to inspire.

Thank you, Maggie, for your compassion on the battlefield, your dedication as a mother and nurse, and your grace at life’s end. And thank you to the Elara Caring Hospice team for helping her journey end just as she lived—with dignity and courage.

A Giving Campaign

Donate and Honor