Pandemic or no pandemic, this WWII vet got a parade
Bernie Hoffman, of Scott, was 16 when he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and, during World War II, saw action in Guam, the Marshall Islands and Okinawa, taking shrapnel in battle.
On Saturday, he turned 95.
If he had any doubt that his long-ago sacrifice was still appreciated, or feared his birthday might be overlooked given the coronavirus pandemic, he thought again as members of the community, his family, friends and the South Hills Marine Corps
League paraded through town — literally — in his honor.
The birthday procession, escorted by Scott police, began at the Township Public Works building at the bottom of Lindsay Road and reached his house on Wynnecliffe Drive about 2 p.m.
Scores of cars, three Scott fire trucks and a bevy of Marines and others including veterans lined up to begin the drive-by celebration. His daughter, Linda, tried to help organize it all while wrapping her brain around what she was witnessing.
“You have no idea how emotional this is seeing this outpouring of love for my dad,” she said in a wavering voice during a brief phone call.
The focus of the unannounced tribute simply was told that someone wanted to visit him and that he should go to the top of the driveway. What he saw when he maneuvered his scooter there were balloons, cameras and a notso-ordinary residential street scene, including a rendition of the national anthem.
All part of a thank you for his service more than eight decades ago.
“What a surprise,” he said afterward.
Family members organized the parade for Mr. Hoffman, one of a dwindling number of surviving World War II veterans.
Mr. Hoffman said he was wounded by grenade shrapnel on Okinawa in 1945 during the fight for Sugar Loaf Hill. He received a Purple Heart.
Instead of presents or cake, the hope was that the Marines’ Toys for Tots would receive support in his name, organizers said. Many who showed up obliged.