Freddie Thompson always wanted to be a part of something greater than himself. As a Black child growing up in segregated South Carolina in the 1930s and 1940s, opportunities to reach for that greatness were seldom available to him. A series of tragedies and hardships early in his life set him back even further. His mother died in childbirth and, with no father present to take care of him, he was raised by his stepmother alongside two stepbrothers and two stepsisters.

Freddie was part of the family, but never felt that he was seen that way. All he wanted was something he rarely received: recognition. So, in 1950 at the age of 18, he seized the opportunity to become more than his circumstances and enrolled in the Army at the start of the Korean War.

Finding Fraternity with the Buffalo Soldiers

The Army promised brotherhood, but bigotry was never far off. Once he arrived at Fort McPherson in Atlanta to start training, he was separated from the white men he rode with and sent to a segregated unit. That unit, though, was one steeped in a storied history dating back to the Western frontier following the Civil War.

As a new member of the 24th Infantry Regiment—one of only four all-black regiments created after the Civil War—Freddie became not just an Army “grunt.” He was a Buffalo Soldier, a name given by Native Americans to the all-Black 9th and 10th Cavalry Regiments for their fierceness and courage.

“They had never seen Black people before, so they related the soldiers to buffalo…because buffalo are such dangerous fighters,” says Freddie. “We were one of the first fighter units that were sent to Korea when the war broke out.”

Fighting Through Injury to Secure a Place in History

Freddie had finally found the recognition he sought after, but it would soon come at a painful price. Before joining the Army, Freddie played shortstop on a semi-pro baseball team and earned the nickname “Toy Cannon” for his powerful arm. A few months into combat, a bullet ripped through that arm in battle and sent him to Japan to get patched up. It wasn’t long before he was back in action, but then he ended up right back in the hospital several months later after a second more serious injury. Still, Freddie wasn’t done fighting and was back on his feet in no time.

The war was unrelenting, and Freddie says he was “in combat every day” until his service was up. From the trenches of major battles like Pork Chop Hill and the Iron Triangle to historic moments like the retaking of Seoul (both times) and the victory in Pyeongyang in North Korea that turned the tide of the war, Freddie was there. At the time, he didn’t fully realize that he wasn’t just witnessing history, he was a part of it.

“It’s hard to keep up with the history part when you’re in it,” says Freddie. “While people were reading about it in the newspaper, I was getting up and living it every day.”

Keeping the Memories Alive

As a boy, Freddie dreamed of achieving something great. As man, he attained it, though not in the way anyone would wish. Freddie’s valor after being wounded twice in battle led to recognition from the highest authority in the land: two purple hearts awarded in the name of the President. One he pinned on his brother Joe who died in the Army, but not in combat. The other he keeps with him to this day, at age 90, in his cottage at Savannah Square, a Five Star Senior Living community in Savannah, GA.

Stepping into Freddie’s apartment is like stepping into history, with cabinets full of army memorabilia right next to photos of Freddie recovering in an Army hospital. Freddie is keeping that history alive. As one of the last surviving members of the 24th Buffalo Soldier Regiment, Freddie still says connected with those he fought alongside and their families through regular meetups. “It’s a brotherhood,” he says. “There’s not too many of us left, so these guys mean a whole lot.”

A Story That Lives On

When Freddie returned home following the war, he enrolled at Savannah State university to learn carpentry and worked as a cabinet maker for the civil service until he retired 27 years later. Though Freddie found greatness serving his country, he says the most important thing he’s achieved in life is raising a family. In the trenches, he prayed to return home so he could raise a son. With his late wife, Amy, he got two. One works in the Cardiology department at the VA Medical Center in Dublin, GA. The other, Freddie Thompson IV, is a Command Sergeant Major in the Army, carrying on his father’s legacy.

Looking back, Freddie says his life’s journey may have been painful at times, but light shines through when you put it in perspective. “I have lived a hard life in a sense, and then a good life in a sense,” he says. In Freddie’s story, you’ll find war, bigotry and heartbreak, but also triumph, unbreakable bonds, recognition and greatness. “There ain’t too many guys who have been through as much as I’ve been and lived to be 90 years old,” he says. To Freddie and all the veterans who have served over the years, we thank you for your service. Your stories live on.

Learn more about Veterans Day activities taking place in Five Star Senior Living communities and senior care benefits for veterans by finding a community near you.

Editor’s note: Freddie Thompson passed away a few months after this story was published. He spent his final moments surrounded by his family in his cottage. Our thoughts go out to Freddie’s family, and we hope his powerful life story is an inspiration for many.

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The band was in full swing playing Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline” out under the stars. The women, ten in all, were line dancing up a storm, their cowgirl boots clacking away on the deck, the white fringes of their Western-style shirts swaying in time. One step forward, two steps back.

It was that evening five years ago that four of those dancers decided to take another huge step forward—together—and one day live next to each other at The Villa at Riverwood, a Five Star Senior Living community just north of St. Louis, Missouri. This is the story of how these friends became neighbors and came to be known as “The Golden Girls.” It’s a great example of how even later in life, old friends can enjoy new adventures together when you find the right place.

How they met

You might say that Alvena Chrismer, Helen Finn, Ginny Foshage and Eileen Murphy danced their way into each other’s hearts. The four women met in 1993 at a country line dancing class offered at St. Catherine of Alexandria in North St. Louis County and hit it off right away.

“They were a very social group,” explained Ginny’s daughter, Pat Stolte.

“They had all lost their husbands, but they all loved dancing.”

Alvena, who died last year at age 104, was the oldest—and also the funniest. “She would often say ‘Age is just a number, and my number is unlisted,” laughed her cousin, Audrey Muenz. “She had all these witty sayings. Whenever she’d meet a man, she’d say, ‘I’ve got a new boyfriend.’”

Eileen traces her love for dancing back to the men’s club she and her husband frequented for many years. “We went dancing every week,” she said. “He was a great ballroom dancer. I was a jitter-bugger.” After he passed away, Eileen missed the fun and took up line dancing.

Helen said dancing and music were always a part of her life. “I liked swing dancing especially, and when I no longer had a partner to dance with, line dancing filled that void, and I met many new friends.”

Ginny, who passed away in May, came to line dancing by way of an aerobics class. “Our dad did not like to dance,” said Diane Meier, another of Ginny’s daughters. “But our mother did.” When Ginny took aerobics after her husband died, line dancing was one of the exercise routines, and the rest is history.

The four quickly became close friends, dancing together every Wednesday night and at area nursing homes, outdoor festivals and other venues. “We used to follow a very popular band here named Fanfare,” Eileen said. “We’d go to where they were playing so we could dance. We were groupies!”

They danced to “Sweet Caroline,” Brooks & Dunn’s “Boot Scootin’ Boogie” and other line dancing favorites. The friends wore red cowgirl boots, denim skirts and fancy fringe collars handmade by Eileen and their beloved dancing teacher, Joan Randazzo. Dancing kept them feeling young. In fact, Alvena, Helen, Ginny and Eileen danced well into their eighties and nineties, not hanging up their boots until 2016—a remarkable 23-year run.

“Ginny was a very good dancer,” Eileen said. “We all loved to dance. In fact, when we would go into a restaurant with our families, they would warn us, ‘Don’t do it here!’”

Diane remembered another time worrying about The Golden Girls’ wild side. “One New Year’s Eve my husband and I drove three of the ladies to a party. Then we drove home and waited, and didn’t come back to pick them up until much later. I thought, ‘Well, this is a switch—we’re driving our parents to the party and we’re the ones waiting up!’”

Big step forward: Catching “The Villa Vibe”

It was Ginny who first proposed a novel idea: What if the four friends could all find a place to live where they’d all be together? Kind of like “The Golden Girls,” the 1980s sitcom about three older women living together in Miami. “Ginny would say ‘Let’s all live in the same nursing home’ as a joke,” said Eileen. Kidding aside, becoming neighbors remained a “what if” among the friends for years.

Until one night in 2016, that is. That’s when they visited The Villa to dance at an outdoor event accompanied by a 17-piece swing band. That visit led to the women living together, not in a nursing home, but its very opposite, a lively, thriving community for older adults.

The women liked what they saw while dancing that night. “They’d never been here before,” recalled Bob Mogley, The Villa’s sales and marketing director. “But they liked us and our youthful vibe.” Eileen said that vibe is what started the ball rolling. “We started talking about how fun it would be to all live at The Villa,” she recalled.

Eileen was the first to move to The Villa, in early 2019, followed by Alvena, Ginny and then Helen. “I was apprehensive about leaving my home of 40 years,” admitted Helen. “But it was comforting for me to know that I had friends who could teach me the ropes while I was the new kid on the block. It was nice to reconnect and reminisce about the good ole days of line dancing!”

The group was able to enjoy a lot of time together as neighbors before Alvena died last October at age 104 and Ginny this past May at age 91. The friends were able to generate many happy memories of life together at The Villa, Eileen said.

“We enjoyed walks around the pond, and we shared a lot of meals in the dining room together,” she said. “We also visited each other in our beautiful apartments. They’re so spacious.” The friends also appreciated the many “extras,” as Eileen calls them: groceries and other errands taken care of, transportation whenever needed courtesy of Gary the van driver, a hairdresser every Friday morning. “And,” Eileen said, “every other Friday a glass of wine—there’s a traveling happy hour that comes to your door.”

“We offer between 150 and 160 activities a month,” said Bob. “That doesn’t even include Bingo—the residents run Bingo games on their own.” So, in addition to walks and visits and happy hours, the Golden Girls together enjoyed movie nights, ice cream socials, karaoke (The Villa has its own Kopy Kat Karaoke Klub) and scores of other activities—even Wii bowling. “I bowled 190 just last week!” said Eileen.

Helen pointed to the great meals and the genuine affection residents feel from Five Star team members. “The Villa is my home and home-cooked meals are a part of my daily life,” she said. “All the team members truly love the residents, and it shows. My family told me they are lucky that I can live here, and I am loved and doted on by a remarkable team.”

The Five Star lifestyle has been cherished not only by The Golden Girls but by their families, noted Diane and Pat.

“Our mom had a better social life than we have,” Diane laughed. “It started out as a joke, but it turned out great. From a family perspective, what was most important is that living at The Villa allowed our mom and her friends to maintain their independence.” Her sister, Pat, agreed, adding that knowing their mother had longtime friends nearby was reassuring to Ginny’s family. “When we couldn’t be here, her friends could be,” she said.

“Our mom chose to leave her home of 65 years and come to The Villa,” Diane added. “Her life continued exactly the way it had been. She just had a different key that she put in the door.”

“I know that when Alvena moved here, as a family we felt relieved,” Audrey said. “She was lonely after her husband John passed away, but here she had a whole new life.”

Calling all Golden Girls—and Guys

Any advice for others who wonder whether it’s possible for friends to reunite as neighbors in a senior living community?

“I would say, ‘Go for it,’” said Helen. “I’d remind them that friends remain together no matter what life throws their way. When things get tough, they find whatever possible way to be stronger together. Moving into a community where there were built-in friendships was a win-win situation for me. How could I go wrong?”

As the old saying goes, life is a dance. For these Golden Girls, moving to Five Star has been yet another swing around the ballroom floor, step by step and side by side. It goes to show that when you find the right place, anything is possible.

Shall we dance?

If you or a loved one are thinking of making a move, make sure Five Star is on your dance card. Find out if there’s a Five Star Senior Living community near you.

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At Morningside of Franklin, a Five Star assisted living community in Franklin, TN, Bob Blackmer is known as the man of many costumes. The 87-year-old resident of Morningside, where he is affectionately known as “Mr. Bob,” dresses up on special occasions to bring smiles and laughter to his fellow residents as well as Five Star team members. Mr. Bob has appeared as Ben Franklin, Scrooge, a clown, a Living Dead zombie, a Mexican campesino, a shepherd from Biblical times, a Western outlaw—you name it, he’s done it. Not only has this brought more joy to Morningside; Bob’s star turns have made him a celebrity on Five Star’s social media channels.

Bob also runs the weekly travel club at Morningside, in which residents take virtual tours of fascinating places around the world. It’s just one of dozens of roles Bob has played on his own journey through life, including as husband and father. In honor of Father’s Day, we asked this dad how it all got started.

Do what you love: Passing on a father’s wisdom

Bob began his pursuit of many passions at a very young age when he lived in Northern New York, not far from Ontario. His father, who worked for the border patrol, helped Bob start his first business: shoveling snow at the age of five. “He loaned me his coal shovel,” Bob remembers. He cleared neighbors’ sidewalks for 5 cents a pop, saving up enough to eventually buy his own shovel.

Other ventures soon followed. Shining shoes at age seven paid much better than snow removal, at 25 cents a pair. A paper route at age 10 grew so rapidly that Bob had to bring his brother in to help. (“We bought new Schwinn bikes with our savings.”) Bob worked his way through high school while competing in sports and playing and singing in band and chorus, somehow finding the time to earn his pilot’s license at age 16.

What did his father make of flying and all these pursuits that began with an old coal shovel? “My dad only got upset with me once,” Bob said. “My brother and I got lost in a snowstorm when we were four and five. We ended up three miles from home. The border patrol found us. My dad was upset; we could have died. But other than that, he let me do what I wanted.”

Bob passed that lesson on to his own children, daughter Judy and son Mike. When they each turned 16, Bob told them they should start earning their own money—but he gave them a huge incentive. “I said, ‘I’ll help you buy a car,’” Bob says. “So they each got jobs, and they paid half and I paid half. Then they both had jobs and they both had cars.”

Aside from that intervention, Bob followed what he had been shown about being a good dad. “I let my kids do what they wanted to do,” he says. Of course, he may also have passed on the value of discipline from his 25 years in the military as well as caring for his wife, Barbara, who suffered from rheumatoid arthritis, also for 25 years. Judy recently retired from AT&T, and Mike runs a thriving roofing business following another successful career building luxury homes. Together, they’ve given Bob three grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. “They both turned out well,” Bob says modestly. Remembering his snowstorm adventure, he adds, “And they never got into any trouble.”

The travel club at Morningside is the latest example of Bob’s philosophy on life, which might be phrased as “Do what you love.” As to why he started it, Bob says, “I asked myself, what would I enjoy doing, what would we enjoy doing?” Each week he shares YouTube videos from travel writers and hosts. “Right now, we’re visiting all the cities of Europe,” Bob says. “We’ve been all over the United States and all the national parks. We’ve even taken a train from Nova Scotia to Vancouver.”

Life and laughter at Morningside

Today, Bob is as busy as ever, despite breaking a hip last August. The man who delivered more than 1,700 speeches, presentations, documentaries and workshops over a long and storied career as a teacher, volunteer and Toastmaster is busy on his seventh book, a Western. (One of the other six was a book about his and Barbara’s journey with rheumatoid arthritis.) He keeps three different computers humming in his apartment—he used to have five—and enjoys visits with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, all of whom live in Tennessee.

When not dressing up, leading a series of travelogues or writing a novel, he’s enjoying World War II movies and Westerns. If you ask, he’ll tell you he enjoys his life at Morningside. “Especially during this past year with the pandemic, we saw that it’s important to remember to laugh,” Bob says.

Maybe that explains all those costumes, which Bob puts on with the help of Morningside’s resident assistants. When asked why he does it, Bob says simply, “I have a desire to make people laugh.”

That would be an understatement, according to Wendy Harrington, executive director for Morningside. “Bob is literally the heart of our community,” says Wendy. “He has an amazing personality and his love of living life to the fullest is contagious.”

So Happy Father’s Day, Mr. Bob, and to all the dads out there—with thanks for the many roles you play.

Happy Father’s Day—and every day

Just as dads play important roles in their children’s lives, so fathers and father-figures help make Five Star neighborhoods the vibrant, thriving communities they are. Whether you’re looking for Assisted Living, Independent Living or Memory Care, find out if there’s a Five Star community near you.