One of my most favorite parades in the United States is the Christmas parade in Naples, Florida. Tens of thousands of children of all ages come to see the creative floats, marching bands, creative costumes and Santa of course.
Bogart is always a very big part of this parade. Hundreds of children along the parade route know Bogart and happily call out his name as we drove by.
Thank you to the City of Naples for the invite to this parade every year.

 

Twenty seven days later, I ended back where I started on this perimeter ride around the state of Florida.
Helping veterans realize that suicide is not an answer to their problems was one of the main objectives of this ride. Far too many veterans are taking their lives. I’m hoping that the comfort I offered to many veterans around the state of Florida had a positive affect on their lives. Veterans have done so much to protect our freedoms and liberties we need to at the very least thank them every chance we get.

Surviving the USS Indianapolis tragedy during World War II, Victor Buckett carried with him incredible pride during his lifetime. He would talk about his experiences with people of all ages across the state of Florida. He left this world last week and it is very fitting that he will be laid to rest on pearl harbor Day.
I honored him by attending his funeral mass

Florida has seven state veteran nursing homes, we visited all of them. Today’s visit to the Sandy Nininger Veterans Nursing Home in Pembroke Pines, Florida was filled with activities. There was a Christmas/Hanukkah party along with a beach volleyball game which pitted some schoolchildren volunteers against the veterans. What a fun time connecting with all of these energetic veterans as they sat on the sidelines and cheered on their team. So many of them shared a story or two with me of their life. It is an honor to be able to talk with them and share these precious moments.

In every town we visited, there was at least one memorial honoring veterans. This memorial in Boynton Beach, Florida was located near American Legion Post 164. It had a prominent location in a traffic circle where every car that drove by or every pedestrian would be able to view this fitting Veterans Memorial

There is a lone star which was added to the front sign of my bicycle near the beginning of my ride around the perimeter Florida. The star was given to me by friends, Mary and Oscar. Many of their relatives are veterans. All during the ride, the star became a reminder to me of the sacrifice veterans made.

In 2003 Lynelle Zelnar founded Forgotten Soldier Outreach to fill a growing need of those in the military needing basic supplies. This simple mission grew from helping three soldiers overseas to now providing care packages to thousands of soldiers who love receiving one of their packages containing some of the simple pleasures of life.
One of the favorite items soldiers love receiving in their care package are letters from home side. If you have the time to write just a few or dozens of letters of thanks please send them in a large envelope to:
Forgotten Soldier Outreach
3550 23rd Avenue S. #7
Lake Worth, FL
33461