Veterans receive visit from local franchise
Partnership has created some lasting bonds between young and old
Employees from Hooters Restaurant in Pembroke Pines recently visited the Alexander Sandy Nininger Veterans Nursing Home to provide lunch as well as calendars via through the restaurant chain’s Operation Calendar Drop Program.
To show their appreciation for the men and women who have fought for the country, employees clamored for the right to visit the veterans at the local nursing home.
Restaurant General Manager JoeTruglio, anArmy veteran himself, often spoke to some of the veterans at the restaurant and inquired howhe could help.
Since some of the veterans had a difficult time getting out, Truglio saw an opportunity to serve food while spending time with veterans.
“We actually have girls who fight to come over there to visit,” Truglio said. “We’re happy to do this and the veterans make frequent requests to have them over. We come out there every other month and would like to do it more often. We have been doing this for about two years and it’s nice to get the girls involved and they learn some real history. The vets and their families love the girls, the food and this is somethingwewant to continue doing.”
There are approximately 160 veterans at the nursinghome, who served inWorldWar II, Korea and Vietnam. The interactions have created some bonds between employees and the vets.
Chuck Melcher is the owner and publisher of the Hooters calendar. Operation Calendar Drop distributes Hooters calendars to military personnel stationed around the world. The program allows guests to purchase a calendar and personalize a note of thanks to the troops who can’t be with their families for the holidays. Since 2005, over 150,000 calendars have been distributed.
“This has been huge success,” Melcher said. “This has been well received by the public as well as the troops. The reaction from the military is totally positive. Hooters is an American icon that soldiers can really identify with. It’s tremendously rewarding for the girls and very important to them.”
Larry Militello is an administrator at Alexander Sandy Nininger Veterans Nursing Home and appreciates what Hooters does.
“We have our Friday Afternoon Happy Hour for the vets and they are excited when Hooters pays us a visit,” Militello said. “It’s a really nice thing that they do and some of our guys can’t get out so they really enjoy the girls coming over. Obviously the guys love it.”