BBQ, Karaoke & Camaraderie

One by one, the men of honor from the Loma Linda Veterans Hospital embarked the buses and took their seats, ready for the journey ahead. On the morning of March 22nd, after all the vets were on board, the buses started their engines and the bike engines roared. The many men hit the highway, headed to take part in the festivities that were waiting for them at Post 79. They were escorted by the motorcycling members of the American Legion, who were also veterans themselves. There was food, fellowship and karaoke songs to be sung not too long after the vets had arrived. Navy Veteran Levi Lane, an outpatient at the Loma Linda Hospital and no foreigner to Post 79, expressed his sentiment towards the volunteered staff and members who dedicated their time and service to the vets saying, “I love the people. I’ve become emotionally attached to the people here at the American Legion.” As hot dogs and burgers seared on the grill, one veteran after the other approached the mic to perform classic karaoke hits. For the entire afternoon, the men enjoyed each others company, the musical entertainment, ate until they were full and talked and laughed together. At the sight of the camaraderie, Eddie D. “Deno” Blankenship, the Post Commander of Post 79, was inspired. When asked if he believed that the fellowship and time away from the hospital was good for the veterans, Deno replied, “There’s no better feeling for a veteran than to sit and talk with people who have shared the same experiences as they have.“ J.R. Tofte, the founder of the Veteran’s Day Out (VDO) organization, which organized the event for the veterans enjoyment, was pleased to see how it turned out. There were smiling faces all around. Songs were being sung, stories were being told and the men were gathered together as one. Throughout the entire day, the volunteered staff of Post 79 worked hard to make sure that every vet was comfortable, taken care of and enjoying their time to get away. With a smile creasing his cheeks, J.R. Tofte looked around at the assembly of seasoned soldiers, nodded his head at the sight of it all and said, "Veterans helping veterans, that’s what it’s all about. That’s what I love to see.”