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JTF Scott spends Memorial Day with former servicemembers

  • Published
  • By Airman Amber Kelly-Woodward
  • 375th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  Joint Total Force Scott volunteers had the opportunity to spend a day with veterans at the Illinois' Veterans' Home in Quincy, Ill., for the Memorial Day celebration on the holiday's actual designated date, May 30. 

"Each trip brings new faces from Scott and each trip is the same," said retired Senior Master Sgt. Danny Storey, Air Force Sergeants Association first trustee. "The troops are very quiet on the way up, not knowing what to expect, but each trip back to Scott is filled with chatter and discussions about what an incredible place this is and about the fascinating discussions they had." 

The event began at 10:30 with Mr. Storey as the guest speaker. The Quincy mayor and beauty queens were also in attendance. 

The Illinois American Legion color guard performed a 21 gun shot salute after a roll call for the dead was called for members who died from May 30, 2007 to May 29, 2008. 

Quincy has members who served in World War II through the Gulf Wars. 

Volunteers served the veterans and their guests chicken salad, hot dogs, apple pie, vanilla ice cream, watermelon and soda. The Nashville Bound Band provided entertainment. 

Mr. Storey and his wife have been bringing volunteers to Quincy since 2001. They host four events, one for St. Patrick's Day, one on Memorial Day, a fishing trip around August or September and one for Christmas. 

"Sherry and I came out here for the first time on a cool fall day in 2001," said "Our lives changed when we came through those gates and began to meet the staff and residents of the Quincy Veterans Home. 

"Sherry and I were so fascinated by the people and the history of the Quincy Veterans Home after that first trip that we could not wait to get back to Scott and spread the word about this incredible resource," he said. "We just had to bring other back with us, and for just over six years that's just what we have done." 

Quincy is always in need of donations, including videos, DVD's, board games, puzzles, magazines, books, grooming items, costume jewelry, as well as, monetary donations. They also collect military items for their museum. 

Retired Chief Master Sgt. Gene Collins, Airman's Attic's coordinator, gave me a truck load of items, said Mr. Storey. 

"We live in a time when there are so many distractions that I think it is vitally important to make the time to remember our fallen veterans," said Mr. Storey. "From the inception of our great nation we have counted on the men and women of our armed forces to defend out freedom and out way of life." 

Quincy opened June 1, 1886 after the 34th Illinois General Assembly passed legislation to establish a disabled veterans' home for Mexican and Civil Wars veterans in 1885. Quincy is not only one of the largest and oldest veterans' homes in Illinois, but in the country. It currently provides housing to over 400 veterans. 

Quincy is considered to be a "city within a city" as is includes its own post office, bank, assembly hall, guest house, mini post exchange, chapel, cemetery, lake, animal park, museum and other historical military related sites, publication and television station. Quincy offers domiciliary health care, skilled nursing care and two Alzheimer's units.