Franklin House plays for the residents of the Veterans’ Affairs hospital in Plains Township from the safety of the parking lot on Monday.
Kevin Carroll | Times Leader
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PLAINS TWP. — The Veterans’ Affairs Medical Center typically has a big outdoor picnic planned for Memorial Day. The vets get to soak in some sun, enjoy good food and good company.
This year, that wasn’t possible. The COVID-19 pandemic has kept the VA residents stuck inside, and the picnic was canceled to protect everyone’s safety.
So, as they’ve done so often in the past, the District 12 American Legion did the next best thing: a parking lot concert featuring balloons, flags and a full band.
“We wanted to do this to honor the veterans on Memorial Day without putting them at risk,” said Nicole Guest, District 12’s canteen fund manager and a driving force behind Monday’s parking lot festivities.
Guest and the rest of the Legion members have been instrumental in planning parties for the residents of the VA, sparing no expense to bring the vets some cheer and a good time, whether it be Christmas, Saint Patrick’s Day or New Year’s Eve.
A small handful of Legion members, with the support and well-wishes of the entire District 12 behind them, showed up to the VA on Monday to celebrate with the vets.
Several vets could be seen sitting at their windows and waving down to the Legion, as local band Franklin House played sets in multiple locations around the outside of the building.
The concert was opened with a prayer, and some words from Guest.
“To all our comrades inside, we love you and we can’t wait to be back in there with you,” Guest said.
After the Pledge of Allegiance and a rendition of “Taps,” the band fired off a number of hits, much to the delight of the vets listening from their rooms. A few residents could even be seen dancing and singing along from their windows.
The party started at 2 p.m. and continued for a few hours as the Legion and the band made their way around the perimeter of the building so that everyone got a chance to hear them.
At 3 p.m., a moment of silence was held in honor of all of the fallen heroes that have served the United States.
Not too long after that, in a touching gesture of remembrance, the Legion released a number of star-spangled balloons into the sky.
Guest has said before, and she reiterated on Monday, that her and the Legion would continue to throw parking lot parties for the vets, in place of the more traditional parties that they had before the pandemic.
“It gives them something to look forward to, and be happy about,” Guest said. “We’re here for them.”