Serving those who served: Team Travis Airmen give back to local veterans home

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Stephen J. Collier
  • 349th Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Maybe it was the flapjacks and eggs served by uniformed Airmen. Or perhaps it was the Elvis impersonator belting out '50s tunes. Or perhaps it was just the warm smiles and hugs given to them.

Whatever it was, more than 100 veterans and their spouses at the Veterans Home of California in Yountsville were grinning ear to ear June 14 when Airmen from the 349th and 60th Air Mobility Wings here showed up on their door step as part of the annual Operation Gratitude event.

More than 85 Airmen took to the grill, roamed the home's hallways and set up the veteran's dining area that provided a warm reception where in a few hours, all involved could give thanks. Air Force Reserve Tech. Sgt. Jeffrey Forzaglia, 79th Aerial Refueling Squadron aviation resource manager and Operation Gratitude event coordinator, said he felt the event went well and that the Airmen in attendance "brought fellowship and smiles to the lives of those who don't have families."

We had more than enough volunteers and the vets enjoyed it," Forzaglia said. "We had a lot of vets attend compared with years past, and that's a testament to the Airmen here." Kern Wright, a resident at the home who served as a combat medic in the 8th Armored Division during World War II, said he and his wife have come to seven Operation Gratitude breakfast events.

"It's wonderful, it's more than we expect," said Wright, who left the Army as a private first class. "It's really nice and really we don't expect any thanks. To me, that's superfluous -- we had a job to do and we did it during World War II."

Forzaglia, the event coordinator for the last six events, said the Airmen who gave up their time on a Saturday showed their dedication.

"They know if it wasn't for these veterans, we wouldn't have been able to serve today," he said. "Many of these folks are older and don't have family in the area. Just the fact that somebody came out and touched their shoulder today left them with a smile and with the knowledge that people out there still care. It says something about us."