Sunday, May 18, 2025
When Geraldine “Gerry” Salli moved into Atria Tanglewood, a senior living community in Lynbrook, she was eager to share her military service with her new neighbors. But there was one thing missing: a photo of her time in the U.S. Air Force.
The veteran’s wall at the community, which honors the service of its residents, had a spot for her, but no photograph to accompany it. Salli, a Mississippi native, had served two years as a medical technician in the Air Force but had lost all the photos from that time over the years.
When Julianne Bertini, Atria Tanglewood’s engage life director, asked Salli for a picture, it became clear just how much the photo meant to her. Bertini said the pride Salli felt for her service was evident, but the absence of a visual representation of that part of her life was disheartening.
Bertini, recognizing the importance of the photo, reached out to Salli’s children to help guide her search. She also filed a request with the National Archives for Salli’s official Air Force photo. However, before the request could be fulfilled, Salli’s daughter came across the long-lost image while going through the family’s belongings in preparation for a move out of state.
“I was so overwhelmed when my daughter brought it to me. I had forgotten it even existed,” Salli said, reflecting on the moment.
Once the photo was found, Bertini had it enlarged and framed, making sure to create a special display for Salli at Atria Tanglewood. The photo now hangs on the veteran’s wall, directly across from the Air Force logo, where Salli can look at it every time she passes by.
“It’s wonderful,” Salli said, with a smile. “Every time I pass by, I tap the wall and look up at my picture. It’s so nice to have it there.”
The emotional moment of receiving her photo back and seeing it displayed on the wall was one Salli will never forget.
“She was so choked up when we were able to do it all,” Bertini said. “Her reaction was priceless. I could see how much it meant to her.”
For Salli, being the only female veteran at Atria Tanglewood has been a source of pride, and she has always been an active participant in veteran events at the community.
“The military taught me to follow up and follow through,” she said. “It also helped me realize how much I love learning, which eventually led me to a career in nursing. The military gave me the foundation to pursue that passion.”
After leaving the Air Force, Salli went on to become a registered nurse, working at North Shore University Hospital and in nursing homes, where she found great satisfaction caring for the elderly.
“It was very rewarding,” she said. “Taking care of people, especially the sick, was something I loved to do.”
Reflecting on her time in the service, Salli recalled meeting her husband while stationed in the Air Force, a relationship that led to marriage and the raising of six children.
Today, though her husband has passed away and she has lost two sons, she is surrounded by the love of her children and the camaraderie of the friends she’s made at Atria Tanglewood.
“The relationships I’ve made here are wonderful. It’s nice to have people to share life with,” Salli said. “We’re a big family here, and we support each other.”
Her bond with the other residents has been a key part of her experience.
She often prays for those who are sick or going through difficult times, finding comfort in the shared support of others.
As a nurse and someone who has spent years caring for others, Bertini said Salli’s intuition for understanding when someone isn’t feeling well is sharp.
Her observations often help the staff at Atria Tanglewood identify issues that might otherwise go unnoticed.
“[She] can tell by the pallor of someone's face if they’re not feeling well. She has extraordinary intuition,” Bertini said.
