Airmen come armed with Valentines

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) - James Body wasn't planning on getting serenaded by a group of airmen, but then this was a day of surprises.

"I wasn't expecting it," James says.

The first surprise came courtesy of his wife, Maria, who made the trip from Columbus to visit James at the Dayton VA Medical Center.

"I wasn't expecting her to come up here so she came up here to surprise me for Valentines," James says.

The second surprise came in the form of 80 people from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base armed with Valentine's for veterans like James.

"We can see it in the veterans faces they are so happy to see people in uniform and to be thanked for their service," says Col. Cassie Barlow from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

This is the fourth year that airmen have passed out Valentine's made by students and veteran's organizations.

"This is part of our health care program," says the VA's Glenn Costie. "Part of our wellness program is activities where we take your mind off your illness."

But the surprise had a special meaning for James.

You see, his wife Maria is also a former Marine.

Theirs is a military love story.

"We met in the Marines by way of mutual friends," James says.

But it wasn't until decades later that they got together and married.

James was preparing to celebrate Valentine's Day with his sweetheart tomorrow when his weeks long hospital stay will finally end.

"No telling what we're going to do but it's got to be something good," James says.

Because it will be hard to top Valentine's Day with two lovers getting the salute they so long deserved.

As a tribute to Veterans a free concert will be held Saturday at Memorial hall in downtown Dayton.