Several hundred party-goers enjoyed a patriotic dinner and dance Friday evening at American Legion Post #347 in Lady Lake to benefit Villages Honor Flight.
The evening was sponsored by David Blackston of Blackston Financial Advisory Group. In addition to the festivities, David Blackston and his associates, Drew Blackston and Travis Bender, handed over a check for a $4,000 donation to Jerry Lemerise of Honor Flight. Blackston also donated a luxury six-night Caribbean cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas, for a $20-per-chance limited scope raffle –to bring in an additional $5,000.
“My father was in the Army and my father-in-law was a Navy veteran — both serving in World War II,” David Blackston said. “So I have a soft spot in my heart for military veterans. Two years ago, Jerry Lemerise approached me for a small donation for Honor Flight, and I said I wouldn’t do it — instead, I wanted to sponsor the whole thing. I’m not sure how much money ticket sales will bring in tonight, but we are making a $4,000 cash donation, and donating the cruise to be raffled.”
Lemerise, who served in Vietnam with the U.S. Marine Corps, and received two Purple Hearts, has served as an Honor Flight guardian three times, escorting World War II veterans to Washington D.C.
“It is an awesome experience, and I encourage everyone who is able to do it to volunteer to honor these veterans,” he said.
