Five residents of The Fountains at Boca Ciega Bay, an independent, assisted living and memory care community in St. Petersburg, received a warm welcome when they returned home from visiting the monuments in Washington D.C. with the Honor Flight of West Central Florida on April 24.
Richard Dawson, Jack Goldberg, John Hoisington and Ernie Otto – all veterans of the U.S. Army – and Mary Sheridan, a veteran of the U.S. Navy, were welcomed by their friends, family and peers at The Fountains when they landed at St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport after a fun-filled day of sightseeing.
Residents from the community gathered near the baggage claim decked out in red, white and blue with signs, pictures, flags and balloons.
“We wanted to give them the welcome they may not have received years ago and to thank them for a job well done,” said Melissa Krysh, community life director at The Fountains at Boca Ciega Bay.
The community, located on Boca Ciega Bay in South Pasadena, has an active veteran community with more than 40 former servicemen and women calling the community home. Earlier this year, the group organized a fundraiser to support Wreaths Across America and the Wounded Warrior Project. Just one of the many ways that residents are giving back to others.