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Honor Flight of West Central Florida

Veterans honored in surprise drive-by parade

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As the 50-vehicle red, white and blue parade of cars, trucks, minivans and campers wound its way — twice — around a circular drive at the Baldomero Lopez State Veterans Nursing Home, the sight that stood out most was the group of surprised and delighted spectators.

Forty residents from the 120-bed facility — who served in American wars dating back to the Korean Conflict —had been wheeled outside for their most significant fresh-air time since the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March.

Linn Rexroat, Pam Smith and Harry Provan, of the Santa Drill Team, prepare for the drive-by parade. (Joey Johnston)

They were socially distanced and wore masks.

They also waved American flags. They smiled. They cheered and applauded. Some teared up a bit.

It was a Veterans Day celebration — two days late — that was appreciated and treasured.

The event was conceived by Honor Flight of West Central Florida, a nonprofit agency that flies military veterans to Washington and honors their service.

Many elderly veterans can’t make that trip, so an “Honor Flight at Home’’ was planned, complete with a speaker from MacDill Air Force Base, shirts, hats, a clap-out parade and a redistribution of the medals earned during military service.

Those plans were canceled by the virus. The nursing-home lockdown lasted through the summer and still remains strict for safety purposes.

Veterans Day brought another opportunity — and some creativity.

The drive-by parade, which was staged and organized about a mile away at the First United Methodist Church, included the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, the Pasco County Fire Department, Mission Barbecue, the Rough Riders, the Santa Drill Team, Operation Patriot and private citizens.

A variety of signs were displayed to honor the veterans.

“It was wonderful,’’ said Johanna Snee, activities director at the Baldomero Lopez facility. “It’s definitely a boost. It gave our residents a little bit of normalcy.’’

Or, as one of the drive-by banners read: “You Are Not Forgotten!’’

April Currie, Honor Flight president, said her group has taken 40 flights to Washington with approximately 3,000 veterans. The “Honor Flight at Home’’ program has honored nearly 600 more veterans.

Given the virus and safety stipulations, Currie said she was delighted to see great participation in the drive-by ceremony for the Baldomero Lopez facility veterans.

“We tried to make it a big surprise and everyone was told, ‘Let’s go outside and enjoy the weather,’ ‘’ Currie said. “We really cannot do enough for our veterans. We want them to know we love them, we respect them and we appreciate them. We feel like we got those messages across, even though the health circumstances dictated us doing things a little differently than we originally planned.’’

Spectators wave, as a parade passed by the Baldomero Lopez State Veterans Nursing Home.

It was just fine for Sharon Richmond, a member of Operation Patriot, a nonprofit group of former and current employees with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.

“Our purpose is to help the veterans and if they have a need that the VA can’t pay for, they often turn to us,’’ Richmond said. “Honoring the veterans with this parade was awesome. It was beyond my imagination. I’m so grateful because I was up here two or three times a week before the lockdown and I’m so happy they get recognized like this.’’

Richmond said she visited one of her veteran friends during the lockdown, but she could only come up to his window.

“He’s legally blind and hard of hearing and I couldn’t hear what he was saying either,’’ Richmond said. “He put his hand up to the glass and he wanted me to put my hand up to the glass. Then I cried all the way home.

“Just being here means so much. It’s our way of letting them know they are important and they are not forgotten.’’

The Santa Drill Team — a group of holiday Santa Clauses that honors veterans — added to the memories by displaying the flags from all military branches and the American flag on the rear of its truck.

“It’s more of an honor for us than it is for them,’’ said Pam Smith, of the Santa Drill Team. “It gives me goosebumps. We need to do more events like this. It’s so special and so meaningful. These veterans mean so much to our country, and we’re proud to honor them.’’

By Joey Johnston

Published November 18, 2020

Veterans enjoy ‘honor flight’ at home

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Hundreds of people turned out to the Baldomero Lopez State Veterans Nursing Home on Aug. 20 to bring “Honor Flight” to veterans unable to travel to Washington D.C., to enjoy the whirlwind experience.

U.S. Army veteran Bob Edward, who served in Vietnam, becomes emotional during ‘Honor Flight at Home,’ an event at the Baldomero Lopez State Veterans Nursing Home on Aug. 20. (Fred Bellet/Photos)
U.S. Army veteran Bob Edward, who served in Vietnam, becomes emotional during ‘Honor Flight at Home,’ an event at the Baldomero Lopez State Veterans Nursing Home on Aug. 20.
(Fred Bellet/Photos)

Instead of boarding airplanes, these veterans walked down the nursing home’s corridors, or were wheeled down — receiving hearty applause and cheers from well-wishers.

“This is your big day,” one woman told a vet, as he rode by.

“Are we ready to have some fun?” another woman asked.

The nursing home was awash in patriotic colors.

Red, white and blue balloons bobbed near the ceiling. There were sprays of stars. Red, white and blue bunting decked the walls.

Family members snapped photos, and people who had lined up along the corridor’s walls, approached veterans, to thank them and shake their hands.

A Navy veteran stands and salutes, as Fred Still, 90, sings along with music that designated each branch of the military.
A Navy veteran stands and salutes, as Fred Still, 90, sings along with music that designated each branch of the military.

As the veterans made their way toward the dining room — where the main event was staged — they were entertained by a band playing a medley of military tunes. There was also music from the World War II-era and other popular hits.

The veterans also had a chance to stop and have their photograph taken in a pose with a woman wearing military apparel.

Once the vets arrived in the main dining room, they were honored by individual military branch, entertained by singers and had a visit from Santa’s Drill Team Honor Guard.

They also heard remarks from the keynote speaker, U.S. Brig. Gen. Richard K. Sele.

Then, they watched a video, which offered a virtual tour of the war monuments in Washington D.C. — the same tour they would have had, if they’d been able to make the trek to the nation’s capital.

The heartfelt event brought tears to the eyes of Karen Burgos, of Spring Hill, as she holds hands with nursing home resident Henry Burgos Jr. He was a paratrooper with the U.S. Army while serving in Korea.
The heartfelt event brought tears to the eyes of Karen Burgos, of Spring Hill, as she holds hands with nursing home resident Henry Burgos Jr. He was a paratrooper with the U.S. Army while serving in Korea.

Some veterans at the nursing home, however, couldn’t even make the trip to the facility’s dining room.

Those veterans were given the opportunity to watch the event via a live-streamed, closed-circuit broadcast, in their rooms.

There were also too many people to fit into the dining room. But, they could watch it via big screen TVs in the nursing home’s common areas.

It took two years of preparation to organize the event, which was spearheaded by Operation Patriot and Honor Flight of West Central Florida.

In addition to family members of the veterans, more than 200 volunteers showed up to help get the veterans from their rooms to the dining room and to attend to them during the event.

Each veteran received a white Honor Flight shirt and a ball cap. They also received a goody bag containing several gifts, and a manila envelope filled with letters and other items during mail call.

Finally, as they were guided back to their rooms, the veterans were greeted with a warm round of applause from those gathered for a “Welcome Home” receiving line.

Published August 24, 2016

Nursing home resident Jack Kincella looks for familiar faces in the standing-room-only crowd during the ‘Honor Flight at Home’ event. Kincella said he served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.
Nursing home resident Jack Kincella looks for familiar faces in the standing-room-only crowd during the ‘Honor Flight at Home’ event. Kincella said he served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.
Veteran resident, Leo Rodgers, 94, of Port Richey, clutches an envelope of mail he received during mail call. His daughter, Sue Williams, of Homosassa, was at the event, too.
Veteran resident, Leo Rodgers, 94, of Port Richey, clutches an envelope of mail he received during mail call. His daughter, Sue Williams, of Homosassa, was at the event, too.