From one of the organizers in Massachusetts, Ron Morneau: "Despite the cold and rain, Patriots came out in "the greatest American sports car" to pay tribute to our hospitalized veterans. Our patients look forward to "Vettes to Vets" day all year long. They have quite a boring existence, so you can imagine how excited they get when millions of dollars worth of sports cars come to honor them and help them with comfort and personal care items, which help their quality of life throughout the year.
On a dismal, wet day, 334 Corvettes "poured" in and were supported by the Marriott Hotel, the Paul Revere Battalion ROTC, John Cabrel's music from NSCM, WCAP - 980 FM, 110 Octane Productions, Mass. State Police, the Middlesex Sheriff's department, the Pawtuxet Rangers, the troops from Hanscom Air Force Base, the Paul Revere Chapter of the Air Force Association, Off Your Rocker band, Kevin Doherty and Joe Ramage and all the support personnel at the Edith Nourse Rogers Veterans ' Hospital. Your generosity generated over $20,000 in cash and $35,000 in personal care items - WOW!!"
And to add to Ron's comments above, our hearts were filled with Canadian pride as we (2 couples from GMCC) joined the group driving into the hospital yard with flags waving. The weather certainly didn't dampen our spirits (we went prepared with raincoats) and met up with our friends from the New England States, while making new ones during the weekend activities. To Ron Gould's surprise, he met up with a Corvette owner at the banquet on Saturday evening that had spent time in Quebec as a US airforce personnel, at the same airforce base and during the same years when Ron was stationed there... a really small World. I also met and spoke with someone of much interest while visiting the hospital Veterans. A gentleman who had served in Korea at the same time as my father (Dad was with the Canadian forces) and with my American uncle (two of Dad's brothers were born in the US prior to the family's move back to NB) and until being hospitaled was a neighbor to that same uncle.... really, really small World. And really interesting stories to share with the Corvette owners.
I want to take a moment to thank Paul Dunn for all the effort put forth in trying to get more recruits for this very worthwhile weekend - it wasn't for lack of trying... we even thought at one point we'd have Corvette folks from Ontario tagging along. Perhaps next year. You will not regret the trip.... it is more, much, much more than just a Corvette weekend away. You will come home rejuvenated in a very unique way.
Angie & Roger
Ron Gould would like to clarify that the Corvette owner he met at the banquet served at the Rockcliff Park RCAF base in Ottawa and that is where they met.