Marines Searching for Toys for Tots Across the USA

Marines dance with seniors, celebrate Toys for Tots drive
Blue Ridge Now
By Nathaniel Axtell
Times-News Staff Writer
Published: Sunday, December 14, 2014

U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. James Holbert and Staff Sgt. Wes Russell dance with two seniors during Carolina Village Retirement Community's Christmas party on Sunday.
Photo by Nathaniel Axtell/TIMES-NEWS

They were few, but they weren't too proud. For the night, at least, two local Marines were willing to put aside their reputation as rigid, disciplined warriors and cut a rug in their dress blues.

U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. James Holbert and Staff Sgt. Wes Russell arrived at the Carolina Village Retirement Community's annual Christmas dinner Sunday evening to pick up more than 825 gifts for the Corps' WNC Toys for Tots campaign.

Pressed into service, however, they also danced with several Carolina Village residents to the timeless dance grooves of Asheville-based covers band Dashboard Blue.

Peachy Brady, for one, didn't need to be asked twice about the chance to dance with a handsome Marine. The 89-year-old described herself as “a kid at heart. I'm old and I'll never grow up. Two glasses of wine and I'm ready to go!”

Brady and Russell tangoed to Stevie Wonder's “Signed, Sealed, Delivered” and bopped to “Gimme Some Lovin'” by the Spencer Davis Group before taking a break and letting the community's activities director, Betty Hensley, cut in.
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