(Above) Dr./Chef Elliot Cazes will again be in the kitchen cooking up an amazing New Orleans-style feast at the “A Taste of N’Awlins” fund raiser to benefit Faces of Courage on Sunday, August 23, at the Arbor Green clubhouse.
Speaking of great chefs, while my longtime friend Elliot Cazes, M.D., may not be a chef in a restaurant (at least not yet), he certainly could be — at least in one editor’s humble opinion.
After Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans in 2005, Elliot (a noted local OB/GYN doctor and lecturer) and I hosted a benefit to raise money to send to the victims of that brutal Category 3 (by the time it hit Louisiana) storm.
I had so much fun watching Elliot create his famous chicken & andouille sausage gumbo and other N’Awlins cuisine items that I told him then, “You know you could do this for a living.”
Fast forward 21 years. “Chef Elliot” is still working as a doctor, but he and his wife Pam also have been helping a wonderful organization called the “Faces of Courage Foundation,” a New Tampa-based nonprofit dedicated to supporting cancer patients and survivors.
According to FacesofCourage.org, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded by New Tampa resident Peggie D. Sherry in Jan. 2004, “provides day outings, educational workshops and medically supervised overnight camps for women, children and families touched by all types of cancer and blood disorders — all at no cost.” The organization’s motto is “No one faces cancer alone.”
Chef Elliot shares a laugh with student volunteer Caroline Perry at a previous event.
This year’s Women’s Cancer Camp, a weekend retreat sponsored by Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik’s Vinik Family Foundation, will be held Sept. 18-20, at Rotary’s Camp Florida in Brandon. But, Elliot, who has been cooking for this incredible organization’s camps for 20 years, says that, following the passing of another major sponsor, more money is needed for this year’s camps.
To that end, he and Pam are hosting “A Taste of N’Awlins” dining event on Sunday, August 23, 4 p.m.-8 p.m., at the Arbor Greene Community Center (18000 Arbor Greene Dr.).
“We’ll be serving my chicken and andouille gumbo (yum!), red beans & rice (double yum!) and assorted po-boy sandwiches (triple yum!),” Elliot says. “You can eat it there in the clubhouse or take it to go.”
Please note that, the food will be cash-only — for only $20 per meal — although additional donations will be accepted in cash or by check. “It’ll be good food for a great cause and a great community,” Elliot says. “We hope to see you there on the 23rd!”
For more info, visit FacesofCourage.org or see the ad below, but reservations are not necessary or being accepted for this event. Everyone is invited — you do not have to be an Arbor Greene resident to attend!
(l.-r.) Tampa’s mobility director Brandon Campbell, Mayor Castor, City Council chair Alan Clendenin, Viera & longtime West Meadows resident Brad van Rooyen in front of New Tampa Blvd. The dark gray strip is the first piece of the roadway to be resurfaced.
Note – we are aware that the resurfacing of New Tampa Blvd. is progressing nicely and is much further along than what appears in this story. The following story was written when the project had just begun the day before.
When I attended the official groundbreaking ceremony for the resurfacing of a 1.8-mile stretch of New Tampa Blvd. in West Meadows on Aug. 5, I was thrilled to see that one of District 7 Tampa City Council member (and New Tampa resident) Luis Viera’s most ardently-pushed projects was finally coming to fruition.
“There are a few projects left that I am still working to get done before I leave office on Nov. 2,” Viera told me after the ceremony also attended by Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, Viera’s fellow City Council member and chair Alan Clendenin, City of Tampa Mobility Department director Brandon Campbell and long-time West Meadows resident Brad van Rooyen. “But finally getting New Tampa Blvd. repaved has definitely been one of my top priorities.”
But, with the first New Tampa Blvd. repaving already having started the day before the groundbreaking event, all of the day’s speakers were thrilled to get this project finally started.
“Since the loss of the All For Transportation sales surtax,” Mayor Castor said, “which would have been a great source of funding for paving projects like this throughout our city, we’ve had to look at other options. We’ve used a lot of our General Fund we’ve put into paving projects. We’re also looking at our regional infrastructure accelerator and some other ways to not only solve our transportation issues, but also the safety and conditions of our roads.”
She lauded the work of the city’s two in-house paving crews, which she said, “They can do our [paving] work at about half the price in about half the time [of using an outside contractor], so they’ve been doing a really great job.”
Tampa Mayor Jane Castor & Dist. 7 City Councilman Luis Viera at the groundbreaking event for the resurfacing of New Tampa Blvd. in West Meadows on Aug. 5.
Mayor Castor also noted that, “We set a record in the City of Tampa last year, paving over 80 miles of roadways. But, even though that doesn’t begin to address the needs of our community, it really shows that we are focused on paving our streets.”
She also complimented the city’s “Fix It Fast” program. “Anyone that sees a pothole in a roadway, signs being down, anything like that, if you call, the goal is within 72 hours to fix that. And, most of them are done in 48 hours.”
And finally, she said, “One of the things we’ve been very intentional about is making sure that we’re hitting every single neighborhood. If anybody has a question about our paving progress and what roads we intend to pave in the future, go to Tampa.gov. There’s a map that shows all of the paving that’s been done and the streets we’re going to hit in the future.”
She also noted, however, that while “it’s an inconvenience for our driving public to go over bumpy roads and potholes, for us, as that road deteriorates, it goes from a simple paving job to a rebuilding job. Every road in the city is graded, and we are hitting the worst first.”
When introducing Viera, the Mayor said, “Short of jumping up on my desk with a map of New Tampa Blvd. saying ‘Pave this or else,’ he has been on this project relentlessly. So, I want to say thank you to Luis and his persistence and for really being a champion for New Tampa.”
Viera started his comments by saying that, “Since I’ve been in office, with K-Bar Ranch forthcoming, we’ve gotten about $20 million in new parks funding for New Tampa alone and about 80% of that has been in partnership between City Council and Mayor Castor, who has proven herself to be, in my time, not just a good person, but a real supporter of New Tampa.”
And of course, Luis reiterated his slogan that New Tampa “is the Alaska of Tampa. Most of the people in New Tampa aren’t from Tampa. They’re from up north and different parts of the world. We’re religiously and culturally diverse and all we want are safe neighborhoods and just the basics. This project is a very big win for New Tampa.”
Viera also mentioned that he and van Rooyen “went to high school together. Brad helped me out on my first campaign and since I got elected, this road has been his Moby Dick and he is Captain Ahab. He is obsessed with this road because he’s a community leader here in West Meadows and he’s a wonderful person and a good friend and a great family man.”
Next, Viera introduced Clendenin, whom he called, “a good friend, a good and decent person and a great community leader.”
The Council chair started his comments by saying, “To say that Councilman Viera is a champion for New Tampa would be the biggest understatement anyone at this [event] would make today. I’ve never met anyone as passionate about his community as Councilman Viera has been about New Tampa serving on City Council.”
“[Since] we started this, we have exponentially increased our paving budget,” Clendenin said. “Working with the administration, we have doubled our in-house paving crew. If you drive around the city, you see paving projects in every corner of the city. So, wherever you live in the City of Tampa, [your streets] are on our radar.”
He added that, “We’re making up for decades and decades of neglect of the roads not being paved. So, this isn’t a problem solved in one, two or three years; it’s a much longer-term project, but we will get to those roads.
“There’s a commitment on City Council and the administration to make sure we have the funding and the other six people I sit with on City Council are absolutely committed to improving the city’s infrastructure.
“I’m happy for New Tampa for this accomplishment. This is the first, not the last. And, we look forward to continuing this momentum.”
Up next was Campbell, who said that, “You’ll probably notice that the contractor is not out here today because this road carries about 12,000 cars a day, which hopefully means that we’ll have 12,000 happy customers at the end of this project. But, it also means that they’re doing most of their work at night.”
Campbell also noted that along with New Tampa Blvd., “we recently repaved Commerce Palms and Compton Dr. as well — and that really just highlights our commitment to not only New Tampa, but to all areas of the city.”
He added that, “So, far this year, we’re at about 30 lane miles of resurfacing and this project will ad three-and-a-half more lane miles to that bank as we make our way towards last year’s record of 80 lane miles being resurfaced. Since 2019, we have resurfaced over 330 lane miles throughout the city, which I think is a testament to the commitment from the Mayor, City Council and my department.”
The final speaker was van Rooyen, the president of The Promenade at West Meadows Homeowners Assn. “and I previously served as president of the West Meadows Property Owners Association. I also served three four-year terms on our Community Development District.
“I have lived here for 22 years and I honestly thought this project was never going to happen. But, while Marvel has Captain America, we finally got ‘Capt. New Tampa,’ Luis Viera.
“I want to thank Luis for listening to us. He’s stayed engaged with the community. He heard our concerns and he advocated for us.
“New Tampa asks for very little of the city. We have homeowners associations and CDDs who take care of our infrastructure, so all we ask for from the city are safe roads, mobility and public safety — and this is the first administration that has heard our concerns. So, thank you to the Mayor, City Council and city staff for making this project a reality.”
Viera has since posted that now with New Tampa Blvd. underway, “Before I leave Council, I hope to see the ‘cut-through’ finally being open for K-Bar Ranch, formal passage of $8 million for the historic K-Bar Ranch park, passage of our Public Safety Master Plan ordinance and some progress on provisional funding for a New Tampa Police Substation presence.”
The 2026 Midterm Primary Elections are quickly approaching and one of the most interesting local races will be for the Hillsborough County Commission District 5 seat.
The incumbent in the race is Republican Donna Cameron Cepeda, whose Primary Election opponent on Aug. 18 is current District 2 School Board member Stacy Hahn, so both candidates are already known to voters. The winner of the primary will face Democrat and local urologist Dr. Neil Manimala, and was profiled in these pages back in February. Manimala’s campaign currently has a huge fund-raising lead over both of his Republican opponents, as he has raised more than $165,000, compared with $81,000+ for Hahn and only $24,700 for Cepeda. (Note-These fund-raising numbers are from the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections website and were accurate as of July 9.)
Dr. Donna Cameron Cepeda
Commissioner Cepeda (left) is a U.S. Army veteran and author, while previously working in finance and as an associate professor at Life Christian University (LCU). She earned a Bachelor’s degree from USC, along with Master’s and Doctoral Degrees from LCU. Unfortunately, Comm. Cepeda did not respond to interview requests from the Neighborhood News.
Dr. Stacy Hahn
Hahn has served in Dist. 2 on the Hillsborough School Board since 2018. In addition to her time on that Board, she helped found Literacy is Key, a nonprofit to help improve early childhood literacy rates by expanding access to books. She is a longtime educator, serving as a public school teacher and professor at the University of South Florida. She holds a Ph.D. in Early Childhood & Special Education from the University of Florida.
Below is a brief question-&-answer session with Dist. 5 Republican candidate Stacy Hahn:
Neighborhood News (NN): Tell our readers why you decided to run for County Commissioner.
Stacy Hahn (SH): For the past eight years, I have had the privilege of serving the residents of Hillsborough County on the School Board, overseeing one of the largest school districts in the nation and helping manage a multi-billion-dollar budget. I have spent my career focused on education, accountability and serving our community.
I’m running for County Commission because Hillsborough County needs experienced, principled leadership focused on fiscal responsibility, public safety and responsible growth. Families deserve a commissioner who will protect taxpayer dollars, improve infrastructure, support law enforcement and ensure government lives within its means. My record demonstrates that I ask tough questions, make difficult decisions and always put the interests of the taxpayers first.
NN: What would you say have been your top achievements during your time on the School Board?
SH: I’m proud of many accomplishments, but the one that will have the greatest long-term impact is strengthening the District’s financial stability while improving student outcomes.
I championed the District’s first formal fund balance policy, increasing our reserves to 10 percent, so taxpayers are better protected during economic downturns and emergencies. At the same time, we made difficult decisions to close underutilized schools, prioritize maintenance and new schools in areas of high growth, as well as focus academic resources where they directly benefit students.
This year, Hillsborough County Schools earned its first “A” District grade (from the Florida Department of Education) in more than a decade. That success reflects years of improving accountability, supporting teachers, investing strategically and maintaining strong fiscal stewardship.
NN: What is your top priority should you win election to the County Commission?
SH: My top priority is making sure our infrastructure finally catches up with our growth. Residents spend too much time sitting in traffic, and too many communities have experienced rapid development without the roads, intersections and public safety infrastructure necessary to support it. We need to prioritize transportation improvements, synchronize road projects with new development and ensure growth pays for growth. At the same time, I will continue to prioritize public safety, protect taxpayers and make county government more efficient before asking residents to pay more.
NN: Many readers have expressed a variety of opinions on the proposed constitutional amendment to increase the homestead exemption to $150,000 in 2027, followed by an increase to $250,000 in 2028. Some believe that it will diminish essential services for county residents. Others believe it’s a needed action to address concerns. Where do you land on the proposal and do you think the county will need to make cuts to maintain public safety and other essential county services?
SH: Florida families continue to face rising housing costs, insurance premiums and everyday expenses. Providing meaningful property tax relief deserves serious consideration, and I support efforts that allow homeowners to keep more of their own money. That said, public safety remains government’s first responsibility. I will never support cutting funding for the Sheriff’s Office, Fire Rescue/EMS, or emergency management. If revenues are reduced, the county should first identify operational efficiencies, modernize technology, eliminate duplication and prioritize core services before considering reductions that impact residents. Responsible economic growth also expands the tax base over time, helping generate additional revenue without raising tax rates.
We should always look to make government work smarter before asking taxpayers to do more.
Many New Tampa residents are aware that District 2 Hillsborough County Commissioner Ken Hagan (photo below) used to live in Cross Creek. Fewer people probably know, however, that Hagan grew up in Carrollwood — and he says both experiences helped him decide to fight for an indoor/ outdoor recreation facility in New Tampa — all of which is located in his district.
“When I was in college,” Hagan says, “I spent my summers working in the same county park in Carrollwood I grew up playing in. Then, when I was raising my family in Cross Creek, I realized that we didn’t have any county park facilities. So, when I first became the County Commissioner for the New Tampa area (way back in 2002), I decided to try to get a large county park built here.”
Hagan says the county had purchased land in K-Bar Ranch, “and my original plan was to partner with the City of Tampa on a big park there, but the city killed that. (Note- K-Bar is now getting a city park of its own.) So, I was able to take that money and use half of it to redo Branchton Park (on Morris Bridge Rd. south of Cross Creek Blvd.) and the other half to build this facility here.”
Hagan and other county officials cut the ribbon on the $8.6-million Cross Creek Recreation Center at 19019 Bassett Creek Dr. (next to Pride Elementary) on June 29.
In addition to completely revamping the 15-acre park’s outdoor playground and adding shade shelters, new basketball courts, a walking trail and benches, the project’s crown jewel is the 16,000-sq.-ft. rec center, which has a full-sized basketball gym, fitness (not yet stocked) and multipurpose rooms, classrooms and a public meeting space — and recreation supervisor Kim Gilchrist and assistant rec supervisor Alex Spacone (photo, left) say the summer camp program was full for this summer, but there will be programming for children and adults throughout the year for those with a “Wellness Access Pass-Cross Creek.”
“There are a lot more programs still to come,” Hagan says. “I wish we had something like this when my kids were growing up here.” Me, too, Ken!
For more info about the Cross Creek Rec Center, call (813) 744-5978 or visit FLHillsboroughweb.myvscloud.com. — GN; all photos by Charmaine George
Local Dignitaries Fete WWII Vet & Buffalo Soldier Roy Caldwood At New Tampa’s Own Independence Day Celebration
District 7 Tampa City Councilman Luis Viera (below left) organized a unique event to celebrate both the 250th birthday of the United States and the 104th birthday of New Tampa resident, World War II veteran and Buffalo Soldier Roy Caldwood (center in photo above) on June 30. Among the many dignitaries on hand for the event held at the New Tampa Recreation Center in Tampa Palms were Tampa Police Department Major Whitney McCormick (to Roy’s left) and Tampa Fire Rescue Chief Barbara Tripp.
District 7 Tampa City Council member (and New Tampa resident) Luis Viera (photo below) has had a lot of great ideas during his nearly ten years on City Council, but few have ever warmed the hearts of so many people at once as the event he organized on June 30.
In order to honor the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Viera turned New Tampa’s 4th of July celebration into a joint event also honoring the 104th birthday of a true American hero — World War II combat veteran, Buffalo Soldier and New Tampa resident Roy Caldwood.
Roy, his daughter Diane Royer and their family were on hand for the festivities, which included a sizable roster of dignitaries not only speaking glowingly about Roy but also, in many cases, offering him presents in celebration of his birthday.
In other words, if you weren’t in the crowd of more than 150 people at the New Tampa Recreation Center in Tampa Palms that evening, you truly missed out on something special!
Viera opened the festivities with the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence before saying, “We’re here to celebrate our country’s 250th birthday and the 104th birthday of a decorated World War II veteran, a gentleman who won the Bronze Star in Italy, who was a member of the 92nd U.S. Army Regiment and a Buffalo Soldier, Roy Caldwood.”
The packed house at the New Tampa Rec Center.
He then introduced the dignitaries on hand, including Maj. Whitney McCormick of the Tampa Police Dept., Chief Barbara Tripp of Tampa Fire Rescue, Hillsborough County Clerk of the Court & Comptroller (and New Tampa resident) Victor Crist, regional director Luis Laracuente of U.S. Sen. Rick Scott’s office, U.S. Army Brigadier General (Ret.) and New Tampa resident Remo Butler and Col. Jim Fletcher and Col. DJ Reyes of the Tampa chapters of two veterans’ organizations. He also thanked the City of Tampa’s Parks & Recreation Dept. for hosting the event inside the New Tampa Rec Center.
Viera also introduced Roy’s daughter Diane Royer, his grandson Chris Royer and his cousins Frankie and Dorothy Newton and Patsy Milner.
“As a country, it doesn’t matter who you are, where you come from, what God you worship or what your political affiliation you have, this is our country’s 250th birthday and we have to celebrate it,” Viera said. “And to me, there’s no greater symbol of something that brings us together as a country like Mr. Roy Caldwood.
“He’s a gentleman who grew up in Harlem. He was born in 1922, at a time when people who were liberated as slaves were 60-70 years old.
“He lived during the time of the Great Migration, when 6 million African Americans split the south to head up north.
“He grew up during the Harlem Renaissance, when World War I veterans — including the Harlem Hell Fighters — had just returned home from combat and were in their 20s and 30s.
Roy, his daughter Diane Royer and TFR Chief Barbara Tripp.
“This man has lived through our nation’s history and nobody is more worth of celebration than our friend Roy.”
Viera then introduced Chief Tripp, who said, “I just want to thank you for everything you’ve done…for your bravery, resilience and being part of the Buffalo Soldiers. You took a lot and that’s why we’re all here today. You took care of people. I can’t thank you enough for being a hero to your family and to our country.”
Among other gifts, Chief Tripp presented Roy with a plaque that said, “In recognition of U.S. Army PFC Roy Caldwood for his dedicated service as a combat medic in the U.S. Army 92nd Infantry Division, also known as the ‘Buffalo Soldiers’ during World War II. Your resilience & dedication to your country & community are a testament to your character & an inspiration to everyone. God bless.”
Next up was Maj. McCormick, who said, “I looked up what the record age is and it’s 122, and I expect you to make that. Thank you for your service from the Tampa Police Dept. Dist. 2.”
Hillsborough Clerk of the Court & New Tampa resident Victor Crist.
Next came Crist, who is not only the current Clerk of the Court, but who also served 18 years in the State Legislature, both House and Senate, as well as two terms on the County Commission and who founded the University Area Community Development Corp.
Crist said, “Today’s a very special day and I’m honored to be here. Growing up in a military family, I truly appreciate the men and women who have sacrificed their lives on behalf of our country and our lifestyle, so we can be free. So often, people take for granted what we have here and don’t truly understand or appreciate the sacrifices that you and others like you have made. I want to sincerely thank you for all that you have done for us in this country, in this world and this community. I’m so proud to have you as a neighbor and a friend. And I look forward to another hundred-plus years.”
Viera then took the time to introduce several people in the audience who are running for political offices, including County Commission candidate Aileen Rodriguez, Louie Aguila and Sara Peacock (who are running against each other for Circuit Court Judge) and New Tampa residents Morris Lopez and Alan Cohn, who will vie for Viera’s soon-to-be-vacated seat on City Council. Also speaking at the event was Dist. 5 City Council member Naya Young, who, like Chief Tripp and Crist before her, also mentioned that she’s seen videos of how impressive Roy’s dance skills are and how much she appreciated Viera’s invitation to attend.
Then, Laracuente mentioned Roy’s penchant for doing pushups before reading a letter from his boss, Sen. Scott:
“Dear Mr. Caldwood: Congratulations on your 104th birthday. You’re among a special segment of our population known as centenarians. That is a tremendous accomplishment. As Floridians, we feel a deep sense of appreciation for your leadership of our elder population. As Chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, I am proud to represent Florida’s centenarian community. As a Navy veteran myself and the son of a World War II veteran, I know firsthand the sacrifices our veterans, military members and their families make to defend our freedom. Veterans of our Armed Forces truly represent the best of what it means to be an American and a Floridian. None of the opportunities and freedoms we have as Americans would be possible without the dedicated service of our brave heroes. Again, congratulations on your 104th birthday and thank you for your service & sacrifice on behalf of this great nation. You served honorably and bravely. And, after receiving the Bronze Star and being a Buffalo Soldier, you truly represent the best of what it means to be an American & a Floridian. May this be a special time of celebration and recalling family and friends and looking forward to many years. — Sincerely, Rick Scott, U.S. Senator”
(l.-r.) Mylitta Butler, Gen Remo Butler, Roy & Diane.
Next, Viera introduced Gen. Butler, who was commissioned in the U.S. Army in 1974, towards the end of the Vietnam era.
“Gen. Butler served almost 30 years in the Army,” Viera said, “and became the first Black Special Forces officer to earn the rank of Brigadier General in American history. He served in Special Forces and Special Operations Command.”
“It’s an honor to be here to celebrate Roy’s birthday,” Gen. Butler said. “I’m a history nut.
Without Roy, there would not have been a Remo Butler. I stand on his shoulders. People don’t realize the impact of the Black soldier. The first person killed in the Revolutionary War was Crispus Attucks, a Black man. Many Black slaves fought in the Revolutionary War. They fought for their freedom, but after the war was over, they [were told], ‘You need to go back.’
“In the Civil War, they wouldn’t take Blacks in. Why? ‘Aww, they won’t fight. They can’t think fast. But they fought. I can’t tell you how many Medals of Honor were won by Black soldiers during the Civil War, but there were quite a few.
“I wrote a paper [that looked into] the Army War College (AWC), one of the most prestigious schools the military has. [The AWC] did a 1930 study on Blacks in the military. You know what they said? The same thing — ‘Blacks won’t fight.’ This came from educated officers.
“But let me tell you something. World War II came and things started getting dicey, so they said, ‘Let’s bring them in. And, the Harlem Hell Fighters have the longest continuous time fighting in any unit.
“Roy and I sit around and chit-chat and he tells me stories from World War II and you know what’s changed? Not a lot. You still have people out there to this day who have preconceived notions of what Black people can and can’t do.
“Like the late, great James Brown said, ‘Open the door and I’ll get it myself.’ Well, Roy, I want to thank you for opening the door for me.
“It’s great to see all these people here to celebrate this veteran, 104 years old and he walks better than I do. He can do more pushups than I can, and I respect him for that. So Roy, happy birthday. I got your present. It’s liquid and I’ll bring it over to your house.”
The next speaker was retired U.S. Army Col. Jim Fletcher, the former president of Tampa’s Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 787, who served almost 30 years in the Army, including in Vietnam, the Gulf War and numerous other conflicts. He also is a senior mentor of Hillsborough’s Veterans Treatment Court.
“I am also honored to be here,” Col. Fletcher said. “And I’m most proud of all the veterans who are here. It speaks of what we mean to each other and what [you mean to us], Roy. And I love you for all that you are and all that you did. I was most impressed when I went through your bio and saw how, when you were in Italy, you reached out to the community [there].
“In Special Forces, we understand how important that is and what it means to be with those people and for them to realize that you were there on their behalf.”
Col. Fletcher then took over the introduction of his fellow retired Army Col. DJ Reyes, who was appointed by Gov. DeSantis to be the Deputy Executive Director of the Florida Dept. of Veterans Affairs. “Col. Reyes is a Korean War veteran who served 33 years in the Army. He is the leader of the Florida Mentor Program in the 13th Judicial Circuit, the Veterans Treatment Court, a proud father of special needs children, a Lightning Community Hero and an inductee in the Florida Veterans Hall of Fame.”
The Tampa Chapter of the Buffalo Soldiers Motorcycle Club salutes Roy.
Col. Reyes said to Roy, “Luis told me about your birthday celebration and I listened intently to the General’s remarks and one of the things that stood out. And, that is, there are a lot of people who have stood on your shoulders to get to where they are today. On behalf of the 1.4 million veterans who stand on your shoulders, I’d like to present you with a special coin from the Florida Dept. of Veterans Affairs.”
A group from the Tampa Chapter of the Buffalo Soldiers Motorcycle Club then told Roy they were very proud to even be able to be called Buffalo Soldiers and that, “because of you, we are proud to wear our colors in representation of you.” The group then gave Roy the club’s cross-armed salute that ended with, “It’s all good!,” and joined Col. Fletcher and Col. Reyes in each giving Roy their own commemorative coin.
Thoughts About Roy & Our Country
Before introducing Roy’s daughter Diane, Luis gave the following thoughts from his heart:
“When I think about our country being founded 250 years ago, we don’t think about the words of a 33-year-old attorney who wrote, ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal,’ but at that time, it was all white men with property who were created equal. Generation by generation, more and more Americans will be included under that branch of equality, freedom, liberty and justice. That’s the American journey that started 250 years ago, that started with the aspirations of that Declaration.
“Roy Caldwood’s life is a real reflection of that journey and where we are today as Americans, having been born about 100 years after Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died on the same day.
“In 1943, Roy signed up for the U.S. Army. One day, he was reading Stars & Stripes about the 92nd Regiment and said ‘I want to be a Buffalo Soldier. I want to go into combat.’
“He would go to Italy, where he would earn the Bronze Star serving as an Army medic. He came under enemy fire numerous times and suffered injuries. He would give Last Rites to soldiers who were dying on the battlefield.
“Then, in 1946, Roy would put down his arms and come home and get married for 77 years. He also became an assistant warden at Riker’s Island prison.
“He had stood up for the values of his fellow Americans overseas against the Nazis and then, here at home against injustice and racism. A truly great American. Mr. Roy Caldwood.”
His daughter Diane said, “This is all quite overwhelming and a moving outpouring of love for my Dad, whom I affectionately call ‘Poppi.’ He has a lot of other names, too — deal-breaker, rabble rouser, Harlem Cotton Club dancer — you name it, I think he’s done it.
“I want to thank Councilman Viera. You are absolutely amazing. And, General Butler and his wife for coming out. From the time we first met you — thanks to Luis — we’ve bonded, like you’ve known Roy your whole life. Thank you so much for your friendship and who you are.
“A little about my Dad. My husband and I moved him down here, kicking and screaming, from New York about five-and-a-half years ago. He was a die-hard New Yorker who said, ‘I’m not moving to Florida,’ but we finally convinced him.
“His time here has created a whole new chapter of life for him and put a spotlight on his service because, prior to coming down here, I knew nothing of his life as a Buffalo Soldier. He kept it very quiet. It was only with moving and actually going through boxes of his things that I discovered a lot of pictures and memorabilia.
And then…Tampa, you guys just opened your hearts and arms to him. You put him in the Gasparilla parade. You name it, he’s been in it.
“But, one of the things I wanted to share is one of his axioms and sort of what he lives by. He says, ‘Whenever you see someone…anyone… you make sure you figure out how to reach out and help them, whether it’s something small or something big. Never turn your head or walk away.’ And, I have to say, that’s how he’s lived his life. He’s gotten into a lot of trouble doing it, but he’s always wants to help somebody. And I think that’s what gives him that momentum to keep him going forward.
“It’s God that continues to bless him and when he does those things, God blesses him a hundred-fold. So, I just want to thank you all so much for coming out.”
