From Service to Home: Veteran Senior Moving Services with Catherine Sheeran

I’m Catherine Sheeran, Director of Senior Services at Interstate Moving | Relocation | Logistics. For nearly a decade, I’ve helped older adults and their families plan and complete their moves. During that time, I’ve guided hundreds of seniors through one of life’s biggest transitions, whether they were moving across town or across the country. Through it all, one group has always been memorable: our nation’s veterans. Many of the retirees I work with have spent their lives serving their country and moving from base to base, sometimes across continents. When the time comes to make that final move into a senior or retirement community, it carries a different kind of meaning. It is not just about logistics. It is about honoring a lifetime of service, memories, and history.

At Interstate Moving | Relocation | Logistics, that mission feels personal. For more than 80 years, our company has moved military families all over the world through the Department of Defense’s CHAMP program. Many of the same people I now help in Senior Services remember Interstate from those years. They’ll tell me, “You were the ones who packed the stems of my wine glasses perfectly.” They remember the professionalism, the precision, and the care, and they call us again because they want that same level of trust for their final move. Those early experiences with Interstate often lead them back when they are ready for specialized veteran senior moving services designed for their next chapter.

Veterans Bring a World of Memories and Heirlooms

When I visit a veteran’s home, I often find pieces of a life lived around the globe: hand-carved wooden furniture from Germany, porcelain dishes from Japan, rugs from the Middle East, or framed photos from base housing half a world away. Each item tells part of their story, and each one deserves the kind of attention only a team experienced in veteran senior moving services can provide.

Downsizing can be emotional. I often suggest creating a memory book made up of photographs and short captions that preserve the story behind the objects. It helps veterans and their families let go without feeling like they’re losing part of their history. For the pieces that are simply too meaningful to part with, Interstate offers secure, climate-controlled storage so clients can take their time deciding what comes next. Sometimes, it is enough just to know those items are still cared for and safe.

The Specialty Items That Matter Most in Veteran Senior Moving Services

Veteran relocations often include belongings that symbolize service and identity. The most common and most sacred is the folded American flag, displayed in a triangular case. That flag never goes on the moving truck. It stays with the veteran or their family during the trip, often riding in the car on someone’s lap. I’ve also moved medals, framed citations, and uniforms carefully preserved from decades past.

I never forget what these pieces mean. When a family hands me a medals case or a uniform that has been folded and refolded over decades, there is usually a quiet moment before we decide how best to carry it. These items hold stories of early mornings, long deployments, and promises kept. That is why we make sure every step honors the life behind the item.

Veteran Communities and Shared Traditions

Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of helping residents move into several veteran-focused communities across Northern Virginia, including Vincent Hall in McLean, The Fairfax near Fort Belvoir, and Falcons Landing in Loudoun County. Even as some of these properties have opened to a wider population, they have retained their strong sense of tradition and camaraderie.

You can feel the military culture the moment you walk in. There is a visible shared history. Every branch of service is represented. The residents might tease each other about who had the tougher basic training, but the mutual respect runs deep.

Why Veterans Continue to Call Interstate

So many of the veterans I’ve helped tell me they chose Interstate because they remember us. We were there during their military careers, moving them from one base to another, often under tight schedules, and they want that same seamless experience now. They also remember the difference in quality. During CHAMP moves, we packed delicate crystal, china, and artwork with precision, and those memories of professionalism last for decades.

Today, we provide that same level of care through Interstate’s veteran senior moving services program. Some veterans even request similar moving packages to the ones the government once provided. We tailor each plan to their needs, whether that means full-service packing, detailed inventory tracking, or specialty care for heirlooms. It is the same standard of excellence, just with a more personal touch.

Bringing Experience and Empathy Together

After handling thousands of Department of Defense relocations, our company has learned how to move efficiently and securely. In Senior Services, we combine that expertise with patience, compassion, and flexibility.

Many of my veteran clients like to be involved in the process, and I encourage that. I’ll go over the schedule in detail, provide checklists, and make sure they know exactly what is happening each step of the way. Others prefer to hand over the logistics completely. Either way, they can count on the same level of structure and respect that defines veteran senior moving services at Interstate.

Carrying the Legacy Forward

Every veteran I’ve helped move has taught me something about service, family, and what it means to take pride in doing things the right way. These are people who have spent their lives serving others. Now, it is our turn to serve them.

That is what keeps me doing this work year after year. Whether it is protecting a flag case, safeguarding a box of medals, or simply listening to a story from a lifetime abroad, I am reminded that every move tells a story. For veterans, it is the story of service and sacrifice. For me, it is an honor to help them begin their next chapter with the same care and dignity they’ve always shown others.

Learn More

If you have questions about planning a move or simply want thoughtful guidance from someone who has walked this path with many veterans, you can connect with me on LinkedIn or schedule a meeting with me here.