Airmen take 'spring cleaning' to Barstow Veterans Home

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jason Hernandez
  • 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif --  Edwards Airmen participated in a Top-3 veterans home visit at the Barstow Veterans Home on Saturday. 

More than 23 people volunteered to perform spring cleaning duties including pulling weeds, mowing lawns, digging, trimming and raking on the grounds of the veterans home. 

"I am extremely enthusiastic about the support here," said Alonzo Carr, the chief of plant operations for the veterans home. "It's great to see that the young people in the military still recognize and respect the seniors." 

Edwards' volunteers included members of the Top-3, Airman's Council and various squadrons here. 

"Top-3 put this clean up together," said Airman 1st Class Anthony Particini, the Airman's Council vice president. "Master Sgt. Jackie Spann was the main person responsible for making it happen. The Airman's Council has some volunteers here as well. I am actually quite impressed with the number of people who came to help." 

Senior Master Sgt. Thomas Pfeffer, Top-3 president, said he hopes to have more volunteer visits to veterans homes in the future. 

"I think the Veterans received us with open arms," he said. "They appreciate us as well as we appreciate them. Some of the things they were involved in back in the day are very overwhelming. However, someday, sometime, we will be on the other side."

Sergeant Pfeffer said he believes the cooperation between the various on-base organizations is what helps drives the momentum for this type of trip.

"I think our objective from a private organization aspect, is to bring everyone together and have more and more of these," he said.

The Barstow Veterans Home has more than 160 residents, Mr. Carr said. The residents were very appreciative and excited to meet the Airmen. 

"The veterans here are quite interesting," Airman Particini said. "Some of them had jobs I've never heard of. One guy was a Navy ensign and fought in the infantry. He had a very interesting job, which was much more dangerous than the one I have." 

Mr. Carr had high praises for the work the Airmen did. 

"The job these Airmen have done is fantastic," he said. "I would actually hire all of these AIrmen myself."