By Meredith Gardner
meredith.gardner@theindependent.com

Print Story | e-mail Story | Visit Forums

Featured Advertiser

Independent/Barrett Stinson As staff member Nancy Klimek dances behind him, Grand Island Veterans Home member Pete Rickert (right) claps to the beat of ³Shout² Thursday afternoon during the home¹s annual variety show. Independent/Barrett Stinson Activities assistant Wilma Luther (left) sings ³My Wild Irish Rose² with Grand Island Veterans Home member Milford Nelson as Lyle Hulinsky plays the accordion during the home¹s annual variety show. Click Thumbnails to View

In the weeks before the event, he memorizes a song or two to sing for his fellow residents.

But when he gets up in front of the audience, "It fades away," he said. "I guess I get stage fright a little bit."

On Thursday afternoon, Speck stood before dozens of his fellow residents to sing a couple of tunes. By the time it was time to sing the second song, however, stage fright seemed to get the best of his memory once again.

Speck's experience with past Variety Shows has paid off, however. Without missing a beat, the Korean War veteran offered up a few jokes he had memorized, successfully drawing chuckles from his audience. He then broke into an impromptu performance of "Let Me Call You Sweetheart," which became a sing-along for the entire group.

While the performances don't always work out the way he plans, Speck said he enjoys the Variety Show so much he wishes there was more than just one each year.

"I figure as long as they're doing it, I'll do it," he said.

In its more than five years of existence, the show has become an annual favorite for both the members and the staff at the Grand Island Veterans Home.

"It's not a talent show, it's a Variety Show," emphasized Nancy Klimek, the home's activities director.

There are plenty of performers who don't have a lot of talent, but they have a lot of fun participating anyway, she said with a laugh.

During Thursday's show, there were cloggers, bell-ringers, singers, comedians, an accordion player, other musicians and dancing and singing for the whole group.

The show is a chance to get the members directly involved in the home's activities, Klimek said. Some, like Speck, enjoy volunteering to perform and prepare for months ahead of time.

But often the best part for members is just seeing the staff get up and act crazy, said Wilma Luther, an activity assistant at the home.

"They love to see us let our hair down," Luther said. "The crazier we get, the better they like it."

In the past, vets home employees have hula-hooped, surfed, danced and sang for the members, Luther said.

Many employees enjoy finding new and creative ways to entertain the members, she said.

"They love the members and they'll do anything for the members," she said.

Most of all, the variety show helps spread a little more cheer throughout the home, Luther said.

"It's just to give the members a zest for life, and these types of things do it," Luther said.