NORTH PORT — North Port Meals on Wheels treated local veteran Dick Holmes with a celebration for his 99th birthday Monday at his own home.
Although the party wasn’t a long one, since Holmes did not want anything “spectacular,” the Meals on Wheels volunteers made time to give him various gifts and honors.
The 30-minute gettogether started with the singing of “Happy Birthday.” Afterward, Holmes praised the “tune” of those that sang.
The first gift then appeared. It was a homemade cake that member Gloria Najerus specified “is not from Publix,” but instead made from scratch with love.
Secondly, Holmes was given gifts, such as a bowl for eating of soup, his favorite food.
“If you are not in the mood for soup, you can use it for … ” Najerus started before Holmes wittily interrupted.
“Beer!” evoking laughter from the attendees.
Finally, Holmes was given a pin from another veteran who attended and was saluted by him.
Holmes was in the Army Air Force in 1943, serving in World War II, according to an interview he did with War Tales in 2011.