Standing just inside the door of the Madison Retirement Home in Totem Lake, a photo collage of young men and women in military uniform stood proudly on display.

The photos, 25 in all, were part of a Nov. 10 commemoration in honor of Veterans Day, recognizing the past service of the residents there. Next to each picture, the name of each and their rank when they completed their military service identified them, though many of them were taken over 60 years ago.

Staff Sgt. Gary Gauldoni of Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 2995 led an honor guard visit to the home while Staff Sgt. Page Christman sang patriotic hymns in their honor and in celebration of the Marine Corps 233rd birthday.

The event was organized by Madison House marketing director Kim Spencer.

Part of the celebration also included a “living history” displays of military artifacts and uniforms presented by retired Army veteran David Ruckhaber and wife, Betty. The Bellevue couple own private collections of authentic uniforms and various World War II and Korean War-era military and war-time paraphernalia, including an army jeep. Along with John Roten, who set up a number of Civil War-era objects, the Ruckhabers showed visitors around the room dressed as a Marine Corps General and a Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES) photographer, explaining the uniforms they were wearing and the work they would typically do. The artifacts also included rations and war bonds booklets, canning supplies, recipe guides for making dishes with Velveeta Cheese and Victory Mail letters (which were photographed and transported on microfilm during World War II).

“You could get a letter that way in three days,” Betty said. “It was like e-mail.”

Asked why they spent so much energy on their past-time of buying and displaying the military and war-time memorabilia, David said the satisfaction was in reviving the veteran’s memories of camaraderie and friendships from their time in public service.

“That’s the history we’re trying to gather together,” he said. “Because once they’re gone, they’re gone.”

The veterans of Madison House spanned all four military services and the Coast Guard, officers and enlisted. Eunice Kempt, the oldest resident veteran at 95-years-old, wistfully reflected on her military career cut short by tuberculosis. Originally from the San Juan Islands in the Puget Sound, she always harbored a hankering for adventure. Working as a secretary in Everett, Kempt was first hired by telegram for a position in Washington, D.C. at the newly-formed Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

“It was better pay than I was making after five years at Weyerhauser,” she said, smiling.

Her government job quickly gave way to another, however, once the U.S. entered World War II as Kempt enlisted in the Women’s Naval Reserve. Working for a Navy Lt. Commander, she was recommended as an officer candidate for the U.S. Coast Guard. Promoted to Lieutenant, junior grade, she was assigned to Washington, D.C., compiling and distributing military-code communications. The Veterans Day commemorations prompted Kempt to fondly remember the servicemen and women she met all those years ago.

“So many of them gave their lives … and are still doing it,” she said. “It’s a very special thing that we are being honored.”

A retired Airforce lieutenant colonel, 86-year-old Paul King said the event was about remembering his comrades.

“You look back, you look forward, but it’s really all about remembering the people you served with — and the occasional Australian beer,” King laughed.

Following the commemoration event, he sat in the lobby at Madison House where he resides and held up a wooden model airplane his son had given to him.

“It’s a model of a C-47,” he said, adding that the airplane is similar to a commercial DC-3. “I piloted one in 1943.”

King recalled his World War II days, where he spent some time in a jungle in the South Pacific. But his most memorable time was when he had just finished training in smaller aircrafts and got behind a C-47.

“It really made you feel like a big boy.”

Carrie Wood contributed to this report.