Supporting Our Veterans
The Cove Lifestyle
Honoring Military Heroes within Our Communities
We’re passionate about honoring veterans at Cove Communities. We proudly support DAV (Disabled American Veterans), a national non-profit helping thousands of U.S. service members.
Our annual company-wide talent show raises money each year for DAV. Generous sponsors, corporate matching, and community donations have helped Cove’s Got Talent raise more than $300,000 for DAV.
The generosity and support for military veterans extends beyond Cove’s Got Talent.
Our manufactured home communities and RV parks support veterans through civic projects, veterans associations, and military discounts.
Discover the standout volunteer work in our communities happening all year to support those who served.
COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS
About DAV
DAV is dedicated to empowering veterans to lead high-quality lives with respect and dignity. The national charity provides support to more than 1,000,000 veterans.
DAV advocates for veterans’ rights and helps members obtain benefits provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
LEARN MORE
About Cove’s Got Talent
Cove’s Got Talent is an annual talent show open to all residents and guests at Cove Communities. Contestants compete for cash prizes at their 55+ community, RV park, or campground resort.
Finalists are invited to Florida to compete for the grand prize in the spring. Sponsorships raise money for DAV.
WATCH PREVIOUS PERFORMANCES
Bruce Anderson
Navy
Community: Jamaica Bay Village
Bruce served in the U.S. Navy for 14 years and knows firsthand about the support offered by DAV. He became a member four years ago after an injury left him needing assistance with disability forms.
Ron Eley
Army
Community: Cypress Lakes Village
Eley was honored in May 2024 for his contributions to the Cypress Lakes Veterans Association. The Vietnam War veteran has volunteered for seven years with the CLVA.
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Jerry Nelson
Marine Corps
Community: Jamaica Bay
Nelson continues to give back to his community by serving as the President of the Jamaica Bay Veterans Associations. He leads a 48 member group that plans community events, honors veterans, and replaced old American flags.
Learn more
Norm Oleesky
Army
In Memoriam
Community: The Meadows
Oleesky served in the Army as a photographer capturing images for promotional material. He was proud of his service, volunteered with the The Meadows Veterans Association, and wore his uniform to events whenever the occasion called for it. Oleesky passed away in September 2024. His memorial will be held at The Meadows Veterans Park.
Learn moreVeterans Serving Their Retirement Communities
Holiday RV Park
Leesburg, FL
“We do not have a Veterans Association within our Florida RV park, but we do have many dedicated veterans. We have Bob Paul who runs a beautiful memorial service each year.
Kat Hoehne, also a veteran, runs our Annual Veteran’s Day Potluck with the Eustis High School Junior ROTC. The event even includes Canadian veterans who snowbird at Holiday RV Park as November 11 is the Canadian Day of Remembrance. Ruthanne Arnold brings cards to each event for residents to sign and send to soldiers.
During our Holiday RV dances, there is always a moment of silence for the flag and our veterans. We have a very patriotic community.”
-Jessica Smith, Lifestyle Coordinator
Hyde Park Village
Winter Garden, FL
“Resident Paul Weisner is heavily involved in the VFW in Winter Garden, Florida and supporting local veterans. He helps with the VFW’s blood drives, food donations, and makes sure Hyde Park Village always has a pristine American Flag on display.
His hard work with that group is greatly appreciated in the community.”
– Todd Green, Community Manager
Rolling Greens Village
Ocala, FL
Veterans find support in Rolling Greens Village thanks to Mike and Barb Wehrle. The couple helps veterans living in their Florida golf course community along with the HOA and a dozen dedicated volunteers including:
| Rick Scott | Cricket Loman |
|---|---|
| Denise Eades | Bill Holleran |
| Larry Yost | Ester Hartman |
| Gary DeRosa | Al Hartman |
The Navy veteran leads the honor guard at events, accompanies veterans to medical appointments, and visits hospitalized veterans who live in Rolling Greens. Mike also coordinates with the VA when a veteran within Rolling Greens passes away to ensure they receive a military burial at Bushnell National Cemetery in Sumter County, Florida.
Barb Wehrle is credited with planning, ordering, and cooking for the community events where veterans usually eat for free. The couple proudly helps organize patriotic events throughout the 55+ community at the Veterans Park which features engraved bricks honoring local veterans.
“We moved here in 2018 and I still think it’s the best thing we ever did. People come together and do the right thing when it’s needed. That’s what I love about this place.”
Mike Wehrle
Volunteers also support Operation Shoebox which sends care pacakages to troopers overseas. Rolling Greens traditions include a flag ceremony each Veteran’s Day and Memorial Day where a veteran’s widow is presented with the American flag.
Special recognition goes to Jim Puglise, 94, who has been the Veterans Park caretaker since its creation.
CJ Walker
Marine Corps
“Serving in the Marines gave me some of the best times in my life, and also my worst. Seeing combat 3 separate times really gave me an appreciation for life, while also leaving scars inside that most don’t see. Serving in the military does not end when your contract is over. It stays with you for life, through friends you met, and experiences you can’t forget… when you are food shopping or at the gas station, and you see the old man wearing a Veteran ball cap, just say thank you… it goes a long way.”
CJ is the Maintenance Manager at River Vista RV Park.
Jeffery Belle
Army
Learn more“I felt my duty to my country, and I wanted to be part of something bigger than myself.
My biggest takeaway from serving is one of a special brotherhood with some amazing people. I created lifelong bonds. In addition to being able to show my sons (11 and 25) that the military can provide the stepping stones to build on the leadership qualities to make you successful in all you do. Now my 25-year-old son is serving in the U.S. Marines Crops as a sergeant.”
Jeffery is the Community Manager at Camelot East Village.
Mike Rosenhagen
Army
Learn more“I decided to serve largely because my dad and other relatives served; my father was a veteran of both the Korean and Vietnam wars. Growing up, I enjoyed the travel that came with his service, which inspired my desire to see the world and serve our great country. My biggest takeaway from my time in the military is that, with a committed team, there’s very little we can’t accomplish. Our military has existed since the birth of our nation, and being part of that camaraderie has been a lifelong honor.”
Mike is the VP of Manufactured Home Operations at Cove Communities.
Veterans Associations Making a Difference
The Meadows
Tarpon Springs, FL
Service is behind many of the projects happening in The Meadows, a 55+ community near the Gulf Coast. The Meadows’ Veterans Club sponsors food drives and donates to Operation Shoebox, a non-profit that provides essentials for homeless veterans. The 26-member club even donates to Fisher House which gives military families a place to stay while loved ones receive treatment at VA hospitals.
All branches of the military are represented within The Meadows Veterans Club.
The group also helps within their active retirement community. Members volunteer to secure homes before hurricanes, help with storm clean up, accompany veterans to medical appointments, and place small flags outside each of the 290+ homes within The Meadows on holidays.
Repairing Veterans Park
Hurricane Milton destroyed five flagpoles in the community’s memorial plaza in October 2024. The Veteran’s Club is raising money to replace the poles and fly all military flags again. Please contact Lifestyle Manager Eldri Guldan-Zahn to make a donation for plaza repairs.
Jamaica Bay Village
Fort Myers, FL
You’ll find a strong veteran community in Jamaica Bay Village where the Veterans Association boasts 48 members.
Veterans Association volunteers help plan the annual golf cart parade and luncheon on Veteran’s Day. The parade features local firefighters and the Lee County Sheriff’s Department. However, it’s not the only event organized by veterans in the 55+ community.
The group offers a community flag replacement program and recently secured 56 new flags for light poles within the community.
A memorial walkway within the manufactured home community honors service members. More than 100 residents have purchased engraved bricks honoring those who served. The most unique brick honors a Jamaica Bay resident’s relative who served in the Civil War. Money raised from the bricks helps pay for future Veterans Association programs.
Cypress Lakes Village
Lakeland, FL
Members of the Cypress Lakes Veterans Association serve their community year-round. The group actively supports local non-profits. In 2024 alone, veterans living in Cypress Lakes Village donated to Fisher House, Flights of Honor, St. Vincent DePaul, and Quilts of Valor Foundation.
The Foundation gave nine members of the Veterans Association handcrafted red, white, and blue quilts.
The dedicated volunteers in the Veterans Association also give scholarships to college and high school students.
The Cypress Lakes group hosts a Memorial Day service honoring fallen heroes.
Camelot Lakes Village
Sarasota, FL
Support for veterans in Camelot Lakes Village totaled $12,000 in 2023 for the DAV. The retirement community in Sarasota hosted a Cove’s Got Talent silent auction to raise money for the non-profit that supports disabled American veterans.
Honoring those who have served doesn’t stop there in Camelot Lakes. Air Force veteran Mike Bond leads the veterans group which meets for coffee hours each month and hosts several lunches.
The group focuses on veteran-related issues like the VA, DFW, and DAV. Volunteers are looking to plan local trips to military bases and eventually take Vietnam War veterans on an Honor Flight.
The group also works together with leaders in Camelot Lakes to host an annual Veterans Day luncheon, where all veterans are honored, and one receives a handmade Veterans Day quilt.
