A Piece of My Father’s History, Preserved

The tribute banner featured above incorporates an authentic photograph of my father, James N. Thomas Sr., and his fellow servicemen from 1940. The original platoon photograph has been preserved in our family for more than eight decades and remains in my possession today. I share this piece of our family’s history in honor of my father, the men with whom he served, their service and sacrifice, and the legacy that continues through our family.

My Father. His Service. His Legacy.

My heart for veterans begins very close to home—with my father, James N. Thomas Sr., a United States Army veteran of the World War II era.

My father returned home carrying more than memories of military service.As his daughter, I remember the stories he shared about being captured and held for an extended period of time. He told me about the torture he endured, including having his foot placed inside a wooden boot that was painfully turned.

That same foot would affect him for the rest of his life.

After returning home, my father spent an extended period receiving care at the Veterans hospital in Washington, D.C. As his daughter, I remember visiting him there. He later developed gangrene in the injured foot. Although amputation was recommended, my father ultimately returned home with his leg intact and continued through life walking with a limp.

There were other lasting effects. My father became a heavy chain-smoker, and as his daughter, I remember the visible toll that his experiences and his health had taken on his body.

But those are not the only things I remember about my father.

I remember sitting on his lap.

My father spoke Japanese and Vietnamese, and I can still remember him trying to teach me the languages when I was a little girl. More than five decades later, that memory remains with me.

I remember baseball.

He loved the game. Baseball and softball were part of our family life, and he took us to games. Those are some of the memories that allow me to remember not simply the veteran who came home wounded—but my dad.

And I remember the day he left this life.

My father passed away three days before my birthday while I was away traveling for my work in the art business. That morning, before I awakened, I heard my father's voice call my name:

“Kimberly.”

I woke believing that my father had called me.

Shortly afterward, my telephone rang. It was my sister telling me that he had passed away peacefully in his sleep.

He had been sitting on the sofa with a baseball game on. At first, it appeared that he had simply fallen asleep sitting there. But he had peacefully transitioned.

There is something especially meaningful to me about knowing that baseball—the game he loved and that had been such a part of our family memories—was playing when he left this life.

And before I received the call telling me he was gone, I heard my father call my name.

That moment has remained with me throughout my life.

Before I ever cared for a veteran professionally, I was the daughter of one.

And now, through Emerald, I have another opportunity to serve the men and women whose bodies may still carry the effects of a lifetime of service.

This Veterans program is part of my father's legacy.

James N. Thomas Sr.
United States Army • World War II Era

Service • Sacrifice • Brotherhood • Legacy

Life After Military Service

My father’s story did not end when he returned home from the Army.

Among the pieces of his life that I have preserved is his membership with the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA). His membership record shows an entry date of December 31, 1958.

To me, that record represents more than employment or union membership. It represents the life he built after returning home—a life shaped by service, work, family, perseverance, and responsibility.

He had returned from military service carrying physical wounds and experiences that would remain with him throughout his life, yet he continued forward. He worked. He provided for his family. He raised his children. And he created a life beyond the uniform.

When I look at the pieces of his history that remain today, I see more than documents, dates, or photographs. I see evidence of a man who served his country, came home, endured, worked, loved his family, and continued living.

His military service was part of his story. It was not the entirety of who he was.

That is part of the legacy I want to preserve.

A Legacy of Service. A Heart of Gratitude.

My commitment to caring for veterans did not begin with Emerald Massage & Lymphatic Wellness nor Emerald Mobile Recovery & Lymphatic Care, LLC. It began many years ago—with my family, my father, and the veterans I was privileged to care for at the beginning of my healthcare career.

Military service runs deeply through my family. My father, uncles, and other relatives served our country across generations and branches of the United States military.

Years ago, at approximately 20 or 21 years old, I began what I remember as my first experience caring for veterans at the Charlotte Hall Veterans Home in Maryland.

And there is something especially meaningful about how I arrived there:

My father took me to work.

The veteran who had already shaped so much of my understanding of service and sacrifice was the very person who took me to a place where I would begin caring for other veterans.

At the time, I could not have understood the significance of that moment or how deeply it would connect to the work I would one day provide through Emerald.

Today, I look back on it as an absolute blessing.

I served them.

I listened to them.

I cared for them.

And I learned from them.

At the time, I could not have fully understood why serving veterans touched something so deeply within me.

Today, I understand the connection differently.

Before I ever cared for a veteran professionally, I was the daughter of one.

Looking back now, I realize that my heart for veterans was being cultivated long before Emerald was born.

Continuing That Legacy Through Compassionate Touch

Today, through Emerald Massage & Lymphatic Wellness, LLC. Emerald Mobile Recovery and Lymphatic Care, LLC, I have the privilege of serving veterans in a different capacity—but the heart behind the care remains the same.

Therapeutic massage provides an opportunity for the body to slow down and relax. Sessions may help ease muscular tension and stiffness, support circulation, and encourage an overall sense of comfort and well-being.

For older veterans experiencing arthritis, joint discomfort, stiffness, or muscular tension, care is provided gently and thoughtfully according to the individual's needs and comfort.

When appropriate, therapeutic hot stones may be incorporated to provide soothing warmth and encourage muscular relaxation.

Veterans also receive acomplimentary customized Tashi Delek plant-based massage blend, thoughtfully prepared with plant-based ingredients and selected essential oils to complement the massage experience.

For an older veteran, sometimes being cared for with patience, dignity, respect, and presencematters just as much as the service itself.

This is my way of continuing to serve those who first served us.

Veterans 75+ Compassionate Wellness Rate

60-Minute Session — $89

This special rate is reserved for veterans age 75 and older as an expression of gratitude for their service and sacrifice.

Every session is provided according to the principles upon which Emerald was founded:

Compassion. Dignity. Respect. Presence.

To Every Generation Who Served

This page began with my father’s story, but it does not end there.

Military service is woven throughout my family—from my father and uncles to generations of relatives who have served in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marines, including members of my family who continue to serve today.

And beyond my own family, this page honors every veteran and every military family whose lives have been shaped by service.

To every veteran who has worn the uniform—and to the families who have walked beside them:

Thank you for your service.
Thank you for your sacrifice.
Thank you for your strength.
Thank you for your legacy.

Your service is remembered.
Your sacrifice is honored.
Your legacy remains.

In honor of my father, my family members who served, and the many veterans whose lives have touched mine.

Be Well. Be Balanced. Be Loved.™