Yesterday I visited the State Veterans Nursing Home veterans in Springfield, Florida. This 120 bed facility is filled with heroes from across the country who were so happy to see the flag of United States affixed to my bicycle with its patriotic signs.
There were smiles, songs, stories, tears, handshaking and hugs.
Thank you to all veterans for their service to our country.

This Zeta Beta Tau fraternity at the University of Florida was a must stop on my travels. This group of fraternity brothers during spring break 2015 spat upon veterans, urinated on the US flag and said horrible things to spouses of the wounded combat veterans. Their fraternity has since been closed on campus. I made sure I was very visible all around fraternity row. Most everyone who saw my bicycle clapped, gave thumbs up or sent well wishes my way. I also emailed the president of UF, student affairs president at UF, the national head of Zeta Beta Tau and the president of Emory University whose students were also involved. We need to teach children from a very early age to honor and respect all veterans.

People helping people is what life is all about. An individual giving to another individual is a lesson to all involved.
Right from the start, because of its name, I was intrigued with an organization called Veterans Helping Veterans located in Marion County, Ocala, Florida.
Hank Whittier, a marine, founded this organization and is now it’s executive director. They offer all sorts of support for veterans and their families throughout Marion County and beyond. They lend a helping hand to those in need.
During my visit countless phone calls and visitors came through the front door. The need is obviously very great, as is the case across the United States.
In their existing space they are bursting at the seams but the search to find new space will finally come to fruition in the coming months. Several veteran agencies will now be under one roof. Hank Whittier has invited me back to see the new facility next year. He invited me to visit them during one of their events and have me talk to the crowd. What a wonderful honor. Thank you to all veterans for their service to our country. God bless America.

Thank you to Robin Thompson, executive assistant at the VFW Florida state offices in Ocala for the invitation to visit their facility.
She was so thrilled with our visit that she is going to include us in their newsletter and on their website in the coming weeks.

One of the fondest memories I will carry in my heart from the Victory Florida Kindness Tour is that of a World War II marine veteran, upon seeing my very patriotic bicycle, the expression on his face of pure joy and pure pride.

Visiting veteran cemeteries, veteran nursing homes, VA hospitals, veteran groups, historical museums and veteran landmarks are the places we are visiting on the Victory Florida Kindness Tour.

I couldn’t help to not visit this symbol of peace from the end of World War II. Every veteran along my way wishes there would be peace instead of war, the emotions captured in this famous photograph of the sailor kissing the nurse in Times Square over 70 years ago are testament to that statement.