Residents at the Missouri Veterans Home enjoyed a Christmas celebration hosted by the St. Louis Realtors Wednesdy.
This is the third year that the group has provided food, entertainment, games and gifts to the 300 veterans. Winter hats, gloves, sweatpants, puzzles and chocolates were just a few of the hundreds of gifts residents received. This year was special in that each veteran was able to make a Christmas wish list.
Those lists were then given to the 85 participating realtors and each wish was granted.
Each month the St. Louis Realtors group visits the home and plays bingo with cash prizes, but during the holiday season they go all out to make the veterans feel special.
"I think it's awesome that they come in here and think well of us, look after us especially this time of year along with the rest of the time of year,” said Army Veteran Jerry Ilges.
"The look on their face is like a 7-year-old on Christmas because they're not expecting anything and the fact that somebody is willing to go out of their way to get them something that they wanted for Christmas is just, the experience is priceless," said Bryan Bergjans, National Director of Military and Veteran Lending.
The Missouri Veterans Home opened in 1993 and serves veterans from all branches in the military. No veteran is denied admission due to the inability to pay.
