Hot Springs seniors invited to become part of ‘These Eyes Have Seen’ living history project

Special event to feature presentation by Garland Historical Society, complimentary lunch, 1940s musical show

The stories range from tales of love lost and rediscovered and finding strength through adversity to wartime memories and humorous triumphs. These are the stories from our Greatest Generation and the generation that followed – America’s seniors, and they are being told, saved and treasured in “living history” in the form of a social media initiative called These Eyes Have Seen. Seniors in and around Hot Springs will be given the opportunity to have their personal story featured on These Eyes Have Seen when auditions are held on Saturday, April 22, at Country Club Village Retirement Community, 1925 Malvern Ave., in Hot Springs.

Launched in 2015, These Eyes Have Seen celebrates seniors by documenting their stories to provide joy, inspiration and guidance to people everywhere. The stories are accompanied by visually stunning photographs that capture not only the essence of the sto-

ry but of the storytellers themselves. The project now includes scores of stories from seniors around the United States with plans to continually grow and showcase hundreds of seniors across the country in coming years.

“These Eyes Have Seen has become a passion project for us, allowing us to create a living history channel that celebrates seniors everywhere,” said Luis Serrano, CEO, Sunshine Retirement Living, which manages 20 retirement communities in the United States, including Country Club Village. “Filled with joy, courage, inner strength and optimism, we hope these diverse and fascinating histories inspire everyone, young and old. While we work every day to enrich the lives of our residents at each of our communities, the reality is that we have found our lives deeply enriched by our residents. We wanted to share that inspiration and guidance with a broader audience, so we created this storytelling project.”

As part of the effort to grow the project, Country Club Village will audition local seniors, seeking to find that one, very special story of significance that will speak to both young and old. A member of the Country Club Village executive team will interview those who want to share their story, and a winner being announced on April 26. The winner will then be professionally photographed on April 28 at Country Club Village for their featured position on These Eyes Have Seen.

The day’s activities start at 10:30 a.m. with a special presentation by Liz Robbins, executive director of the Garland County Historical Society, who will speak about the role Hot Springs played during World War II. These Eyes Have Seen auditions will be held immediately after the presentation. Complementary lunch, featuring old-time American favorites, will be served at noon, followed by a free,

1940s–themed musical performance by Phil and Lori Norris.

Reservations are required and requested by April 21. Contact Community Development Director Tiffanie Marsh at 501-762-6401 or email tiffanie. marsh@sunshineret.com to reserve a spot for yourself or a loved one.

These Eyes Have Seen is a passion project of Sunshine Retirement Living, which manages 20 retirement communities in eight states. The project is a celebration of our elders, rooted in the simple idea that by documenting and sharing their stories, we can provide joy, inspiration and guidance to people everywhere. What experiences impacted them most in their long lives? What do they reflect upon with the greatest happiness, or regret? What wisdom can they share with us? The stories are as diverse as the faces of the subjects themselves and, taken together, they offer a unique perspective on what it means to lead a life well-lived For more information about These Eyes Have Seen, please visit www. theseeyeshaveseen.com, or www.facebook.com/theseeyeshaveseen.

Based in Bend, Ore., Sunshine Retirement Living manages 20 retirement communities in eight states, offering senior apartments, independent living, assisted living and memory care. A family-owned business with more than

20 years in the senior housing industry, Sunshine Retirement Living’s mission is to be the preferred senior living provider offering value, choice and independence while promoting health and social interaction that exceeds residents’ expectations and enriches the lives of both residents and staff. By providing meals, housekeeping, activities, transportation, utilities and in-house management staff, Sunshine Retirement Living continues to build an unparalleled community feeling in each property. For more information, visit www.SunshineRet.com or connect socially.