Imagine being 94 years old, having served in the Army, and then being forced out of your own home. This is the reality that Frank Tammaro, a World War II veteran, and several of his fellow residents faced when they were recently kicked out of their New York nursing home to make room for families seeking asylum. This shocking incident sheds light on a bigger issue – the challenges faced by our seniors when it comes to finding a place to call home.
Frank Tammaro and dozens of other residents at Island Shores Residences on Staten Island were told they had to move because the building was being sold. They were promised that the facility would reopen, but what they weren’t told was that it would be repurposed to accommodate asylum seekers. This news left the veterans feeling confused and betrayed.
“It’s not fair to anybody,” said Barbara Annunziata, Tammaro’s daughter, expressing her frustration. She couldn’t understand why migrants were given preferential treatment over her father, who had served his country. Her anger grew when she realized that the migrants were provided with support and resources, while her father struggled to get the help he needed.
For Tammaro, the whole situation was not only scary but also uncertain. He moved to another facility initially, but after a fall, his daughter decided it would be best for him to live with her. Despite feeling bitter about being uprooted, Tammaro is now satisfied with his current living situation and making the best of a bad situation.
While it is important to show compassion and support for those seeking asylum, we must also remember that there are other vulnerable groups in our society who also require assistance. This incident highlights the need for a better solution, one that does not involve displacing seniors from their homes in order to make room for others. We cannot simply shuffle people around and expect everything to work out.
As a society, we should strive to find innovative and inclusive ways to support all those in need, whether they are seniors, migrants, or any other marginalized group. It is not a matter of choosing one group over another, but rather finding a way to help everyone. The veterans who were forced out of their homes deserve better, and we owe it to them to find a fairer and more compassionate solution.
