It was an unusual gathering on a sunny spring day.
Twenty World War II veterans ranging in age from 88 to 97 came for a cookout.
An anonymous donor treated the veterans Saturday on a patio of Watkins-Logan Texas State Veterans Home.
A three-piece country-western band Bobby Edwards & The Blue Catz entertained. Red Cross workers provided decorations and helped serve.
Veterans shared memories and camaraderie while members of the American Legion charcoal-broiled steaks. The menu also included twice-baked potatoes, salad and cake.
Written on the cake was “Welcome WWII Vets; Have a nice day.”
George Martin, a resident of the long-term care veterans’ home, who helped organize the get-together, said, “We call this event a ‘celebration of life’ because we’ve all lived a long time and all have in common World War II.”
“We just all like to get together once in a while. We all have memories of World War II. Almost everybody was in a combat position in some part of the world at that time. Getting 20 World War II veterans in one facility like this is not very common,” he said.
The Watkins-Logan home accommodates 100 veterans of the nation’s various wars, but only World War II veterans came to the steak cookout.
The home has 10 cottages, each with 10 private rooms, each with its own shower.
Each cottage has a kitchen and dining area, a common area with comfortable, spacious seating and a beautiful rock fireplace to draw veterans together for social interaction.
