War Veteran Celebrates 96th Birthday

Coast Guard veteran and Robson Ranch resident, Brian Burns, members of the Roll Call organization, and Oklahoma resident and 82nd Airborne veteran, Ben Powers, and his wife.

Cliff hasn’t been feeling himself lately due to being in quarantine and not having any family in the area, so the birthday party brought him a lot of joy.

Renee is a teacher in the Eagle Mountainby Brooke Ezzo | photos courtesy of Renee Davis Saginaw district, and every year they host a big veteran’s event. Through this W hen you’ve stormed the beaches of Normandy carrying artillery pieces next to hundreds of men in your unit and lived to tell about it, celebrating another birthday is a piece of cake. event, she was connected with a veteran organization called Roll Call. The organization brings together And that’s exactly what Clifford Stump a large gift bag of goodies for Renee to veterans each month for lunch and enjoyed this year as he turned 96: good take to the birthday party. Even County fellowship. They also provide other company and good cake. Commissioner Dianne Edmondson volunteer opportunities for those in the gifted a court proclamation recognizing community who wish to give back and On June 13, Argyle resident Renee Davis Sergeant First Class spend time with veterans and many others gathered at a VA center near Dallas to spend time with Cliff and hear his stories. The week before, Renee simply reached out to the Argyle community via Facebook to see if anyone would like to write him a birthday card. The reactions were overwhelming. Cliff Stump on his 96th birthday as an honorary Argylian. “It made his day; he was very happy,” Renee said. “We weren’t allowed to go inside for obvious “Everyone really chipped in, and it was neat to see it happen. He was definitely happy with in our area. Besides the monthly luncheons, which have been postponed due to the pandemic, the organization has two other ways to get involved. Mail “It was such a neat response,” Renee said. reasons, but it was fun the turn out.” Call is a program where “Everyone really chipped in, and it was because he sat out on people can send birthday, neat to see it happen. He was definitely the porch, and we bombarded get well, thank you, and special occasion happy with the turn out.” him with questions.” cards to veterans. Befriend-a-Veteran is a program that allows volunteers a chance Residents made homemade cards, The birthday party attendees included to visit with veterans and help them in any banana bread, and cookies, as well as Renee and her husband, Scott, daily needs they may have.

From Roll Call’s Facebook group, Renee is able to see what veterans have birthdays coming up or who might not have any family close by and needs a friend. This organization is how Renee met and befriended Cliff Stump.

“I just want to say that I can’t thank everyone enough for stepping up,” Renee said. “I knew they would. Our community is a great community full of givers. A huge thank you to everyone for making his day.”

To learn more about Roll Call, visit

www.Roll-Call.org.