'10-star nursing home': Veterans Home residents fundraise for project to honor staff

About two years ago, Walla Walla Veterans Home resident Bob Jones had the idea that the residents should embark on a big project to thank the staff members and others who keep the Veterans Home running every day.

After working with the Resident Council, volunteers and administrators, the residents decided to build a waterfall feature with a walkway at the main entrance of the building that would honor their beloved staff.

Now, the mission to raise enough money to build the water feature has begun. Dave Kidgell, a Resident Council member and organizer of the water feature project, said the Veterans Home will need to raise about $50,000 to $60,000 to make their vision a reality.

The fundraising campaign kicked off on Friday, June 5, at the Veterans Home.

"I've been here three and a half years, and I know the administration here is the greatest administration staff we could have," Kidgell said. "They all have open doors, if they're not busy, there's not one of them you can't ask a question and they'll come out and help you."

Kidgell said the Veterans Home has caring, considerate staff, including all the nurses, cooks, maintenance, housekeeping and more.

"They say it's a five-star nursing home - I call it a 10-star nursing home," Kidgell said. "I tell my friends this is like living at the Hilton Hotel with room service."

Several donations were made on Friday to start off the campaign fund, including one from Gavin Reid, whose father was a former resident at the home.

"I wanted to make this donation not only in remembering Dad and for all the veterans, but most especially for the staff, because he really loved it here," Reid said. "They were first class, and they made his life so enjoyable in his last years here."

Another donation of $500 came from Kidgell's sister and brother-in-law, and one for $5,000 from Bob Jones.

"This is a project we had in mind a few years ago, and we want to enhance the beauty of this Veterans Home, but the most important thing is we want to honor the staff and veterans of this Veterans Home," Jones said. "Anything you can possibly do to help make this become a reality, we would certainly appreciate it."

The project also has help from Volunteers Love Serving Veterans, a local nonprofit that aims to help Walla Walla-area veterans in any way possible. The group's secretary, Samantha Winkel, comes from a long line of veterans, including her mother who is a Desert Storm vet and remembers the Veterans Home being built. She said that helping with this project was just one more way to show thanks for local veterans and those who serve them.

"For all the service and dedication they gave to our country and to protect us, just the small things that can make them laugh or feel appreciated (are important)," Winkel said. " It's a good cause, and I know the residents really want it."

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This story was originally published June 5, 2026 at 10:06 PM.