Honoring United States Veteran Steven Colon This Independence Day 

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When he reflects on his life, one word keeps coming up: community. 

U.S. Army veteran Steven Colon, who served from 1974 to 1976 in Kansas City, has found a new community at CenterLight PACE, where he feels a sense of belonging. 

He enrolled in CenterLight PACE in 2021 after searching for healthcare plans, and the thing that stood out to him most was CenterLight's community focus. 

"I was looking for the right plan, and it had community. So that's what I liked about CenterLight…It has me connecting with people that are like me — retired or disabled," said Colon. 

At CenterLight PACE, he can participate in activities at the Day Health Center, or attend trips to the movies or cultural shows like Shen Yun.  Whether the adventure is an outing, a game of bingo, or simply seeing familiar faces, Steven says the program gives him something to look forward to. 

"It gives me something to do...instead of me always focusing on going to the doctor all the time. There's more to life than going to the doctor!" 

Beyond social activities, Steven expresses gratitude towards CenterLight's care team for helping him improve his quality of life. From physical and occupational therapy to home care services and medical support, he appreciates having everything coordinated in one place. 

"It's great. Instead of going to different places all the time. It’s like a whole bunch of arms in one. It’s very helpful," said Colon. 

He also speaks warmly about the staff members who have made an impact on his life. He says,  

"They treat us like family. They're very caring and loving. Oh my God, that’s what I love about it. They're very concerned about our welfare." 

For Steven, one of the greatest gifts CenterLight PACE has provided is the reassurance that he is never facing life's challenges alone. He says,  

"It feels good that you're not alone. You're not the only one going through your health issues. Your life issues. You don't feel like you're handling this by yourself." 

That sense of belonging reminds him of another important chapter of his life: serving in the U.S. Army. 

"I learned discipline in the military," Steven says. "how to carry myself as a man… and it helped me through life." 

The lessons he learned while serving allowed him to return to his community and continue working until he was no longer able to after suffering a spinal injury.  

As people across the nation celebrate Independence Day, Steven hopes they will also remember the sacrifices made by those who have served. He believes veterans of every background deserve recognition, especially the many people from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds who have proudly served our country throughout history. He says,  

"Puerto Ricans played a very important part in the military... Thank God for the military soldiers, those that fought for our country. We have to keep them in [our] memory." 

Steven can connect his military experience and what his life looks like today because they both offer him the same value he has always cherished, which is community. 

When he reflects on both important parts of his life, he says, 

 "When I was in the military, we were very close, the soldiers were very close. That's what I liked about being in the military…the community. And that's what I like about CenterLight." 

Here at CenterLight PACE, we proudly recognize veterans like Steven who remind us of their service to our country and how important it is to create spaces for older adults, especially veterans, where they can feel that sense of belonging and community. We are committed to honoring their service by helping older adults remain independent in their own homes and communities while receiving the support, connection and care they deserve.

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Updated July 2, 2026