BOTETOURT COUNTY, Va. (WFXR) — Christmas came early to the seniors at Carrington Place nursing home in Daleville. Bill Price is the founder of Sirens and Salutes, a local charity who helps out local veterans, but he also has built a reputation for dressing up like Santa Claus.
He, along with Mrs. Claus, the Grinch and Cindy Lou Who, made a surprise appearance Tuesday morning at the dining room, and helped deliver presents and holiday cheer.
Although all the seniors in attendance got presents, Sirens and Salutes specifically helps veterans, and Price wanted to make sure the 24 veterans in Carrington Place got to experience a merry Christmas.
“They’ve been very thankful, they’ve been saying, ‘Thank you for doing this, God bless you and merry Christmas,’ a lot of things that they don’t get to say to their families because they might not be around here for the holidays,” he said. “It’s nice that they appreciate it, but it’s more our honor to be able to do it for them.”
Price is a veteran himself, and he founded the Sirens and Salutes Charity back in April of 2021.
However, this year was the first big Christmas celebration the charity got to organize.
“We are always grateful to have them here,” Abigail Dooley, the activities director at Carrington Place, said. “They come in every time there’s a holiday, and in between, they are always making sure our veterans are taken care of, and not just our veterans, but our residents as well.”
Dwayne Moore served in the United States Army from October of 1979 until February of 1987, and now lives at Carrington Place.
He loves days where he can attend events like this because it breaks up his normal daily routine.
“Even special days like Christmas, it’s the same thing, humdrum, run of the mill,” Moore said. “Then you come into the right place at the right time, and you get an excellent day like today, where you get surprised.”
Moore wanted an acoustic guitar for Christmas and was happy and surprised to see he got one. He said the first song he wants to learn how to play is Your Song by Elton John.