Finding Home in a Place Steeped in Service

A Veteran’s Perspective on Retiring at Penn National

After a career in the military, you learn to appreciate certain things.

You appreciate people who understand what service means. You appreciate a place where there is a sense of community, but also room to breathe. And perhaps more than anything, you appreciate history—not simply as something in a textbook, but as something that connects generations of people who have served before us.

That is one of the things that makes living at Penn National feel particularly meaningful to many of the veterans who call it home.

Penn National sits in the Cumberland Valley of south-central Pennsylvania, an area where American military history is part of the landscape.

Just up the road is Carlisle Barracks, one of the nation's oldest military installations. Established in 1757 during the French and Indian War, Carlisle Barracks has been a military post, arsenal, recruiting and training center, and home to generations of soldiers. George Washington was there during the Whiskey Rebellion. During the Civil War, the post served as an important supply and recruiting center, and Confederate forces occupied it briefly in 1863. Today, it is home to the U.S. Army War College.

For a veteran, there is something about that history that feels familiar.

You can drive through Carlisle and know that soldiers have been doing the same thing for generations—training, preparing, serving and eventually moving on to the next chapter.

And the history doesn't stop there.

A Landscape Shaped by the Civil War

Penn National is also surrounded by places that played a role in the Civil War.

Gettysburg is nearby, but the history of the war reaches much closer to home. Confederate forces moved through the Cumberland Valley in 1863, and the fighting touched Carlisle, Shippensburg and Mechanicsburg. In 1864, Chambersburg was burned by Confederate troops during the war's bitter final years.

Even places that might seem like ordinary stops on a drive have stories behind them.

Caledonia State Park, just outside Fayetteville, contains the remains of the Caledonia Iron Works associated with Pennsylvania statesman and abolitionist Thaddeus Stevens. The ironworks was destroyed during the Confederate advance in 1863.

Living here, you become aware that you're surrounded by layers of American history—Revolutionary history, military history, Civil War history, industrial history and the stories of the people who lived here long before us.

For someone who has spent a lifetime serving the country, that connection can mean something.

Still Close to the Military Community

Retirement doesn't necessarily mean leaving the military community behind.

The Carlisle Barracks Commissary is close enough to remain a practical part of life for eligible military retirees, and the presence of the Army War College means that military life is still very much a part of the region.

For those who have family or medical connections in the Washington area, being within reasonable driving distance of Washington, D.C., and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center is another consideration.

You can enjoy the quieter pace of south-central Pennsylvania without feeling as though you've moved completely away from the places and institutions that have been part of your life.

And Then There Are the People

Perhaps the most important part isn't the history or even the location.

It's the people.

Penn National has a strong veteran presence. People have served in different branches, in different eras and in different parts of the world. Some spent their careers in the military; others served for a shorter time. Some are still deeply involved in veterans' organizations and activities, while others simply enjoy being around people who understand the experience.

The community recognizes that history.

Veterans are honored during Memorial Day and Veterans Day, including occasions when veteran residents share their own experiences of military service. Throughout the year, Penn National also hosts several veterans' golf tournaments organized by outside organizations raising funds for veteran and charitable causes.

For many veterans, those gatherings provide something that can be difficult to replace after leaving active service: an opportunity to come together with people who share an understanding of service and sacrifice.

There is also a strong tradition of service beyond the military community. Penn National's own Patti Nitterhouse was honored by the Boy Scouts of America in 2018, recognizing her commitment to the values of leadership, service and community.

Retirement, Without Leaving Everything Behind

There can be a misconception that retirement means putting your old life behind you.

Maybe it doesn't.

Maybe retirement is about taking the best parts of that life with you.

The friendships.
The stories.
The discipline.
The appreciation for country and community.
The desire to stay active and involved.

At Penn National, a veteran can spend the morning on the golf course, meet friends for lunch, attend a veterans' event, walk the trails or simply sit on the porch and enjoy the mountains.

And when you want a reminder of where you've come from, you don't have to look very far.

The roads around here have carried soldiers for more than two centuries. Carlisle Barracks is still educating military leaders. Gettysburg still tells the story of those who fought and died for a divided nation. Chambersburg still remembers the day war came to its doorstep.

It is a remarkable place to begin the quieter chapter of a life of service.

Not because you are leaving that life behind—but because you are carrying its history with you.

“Before we chose the Penn National Community, we looked at many other communities, we played local golf courses and toured surrounding areas. In the end, we chose Penn National because it was close to our children and home to friendly and interesting people. We were able to tick off our most important boxes.”

“We chose a home site in Penn National’s custom-home neighborhood a few years before we retired because we wanted a particular location and view. With Penn National’s ‘no timeframe to build’ policy, we could plan and build the home we wanted when we were ready. This kind of flexibility is rare – and it fit perfectly with our goals.”