Photo By Mark Olsen | Senior Master Sgt. Michael Monteith listens to a resident during the Annual Holiday...... read more read more
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VINELAND, N.J. - The residents of the Veterans Memorial Home at Vineland were treated to the singing talents of nineteen 177th Fighter Wing airmen Dec. 11.
Additionally, more than 70 fourth graders from the Seaview School in Linwood, N.J. were on hand to musically balance out the airmen for the Annual Holiday "Songfest" at the Home.
This is the 13th year that the Wing has visited the Home.
As in years past, airmen and fourth graders were issued holiday greeting cards, assigned to groups and sent out to spread cheer to the residents.
"It's an amazing thing that the students want to come here for our residents, and it means so much for the residents to see youth come out here, to know that they care about them,” said Derick Glenn, a senior therapy program assistant at the Home. “They come in and they sing, they hand out cards; they actually go one-on-one and talk to them and it does something to the residents."
Congregating in cafeterias, day rooms, as well as serenading individuals in their rooms (those residents that are bedridden), the carolers passed out cards and candy canes, sang and chatted with the residents.
"You want to let these people know we still care about them. We want to thank them for the duty that they did. That without them we wouldn't be here," said Staff Sgt. Steven Ballinger, 177th Maintenance Squadron.
Prior to the Songfest, the Wing delivered items from the Home’s Holiday Wish List. Each year, the Wing raises money from individual and organizational donations to purchase items on the list.
"We have a wish list for donations and deliver them with our visit and Seaview School brings things from their communities that are donated and it's great for the residents,” said Senior Master Sgt. Tim Donovan, 177th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. “You see it in their eyes. It's nice to see them smiling, bringing a nice thing to their day."
| Date Taken: | 12.11.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 12.16.2013 12:01 |
| Story ID: | 118271 |
| Location: | VINELAND, NEW JERSEY, US |
| Web Views: | 56 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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