Bikers share a smile at Illinois Veterans Home - WGEM.com: Quincy News, Weather, Sports, and Radio

Living away from family can be tough, especially for Veterans needing extra care at the Illinois Veterans Home in Quincy. Sunday, a motorcycle group sent some love to Vets.

Buzzy and Shirley McLaughlin have been married for 46 years. Six months ago Buzzy moved into the Illinois Veterans Home in Quincy and it hasn't been easy.

"Just the Separation," Shirley said. "Me being at our home, supporting home life by myself, coming here everyday, it's been hard."

Buzzy served as a Marine and over 100 bikers made their way to the home from Springfield, Illinois to show their support. Each Veteran got a bag filled with essential toiletries, socks and a bouquet of flowers from Fifth Street Flower Shop in Springfield, who's owners put on bike rally.

"This is just something to kind of give back to the community," Manager Nicki Shaub said. "The Vets paid everything for us and we owe them everything. We just want to make them smile, make the happy and make them feel good."

Bikes lined the street at the Illinois Veteran Home on Sunday so the Veterans could see the support. Shaub said she hopes this is just the beginning to a long standing tradition.

"If we can do this again next year, which we plan on it, we're going to make it even bigger for them next year," Shaub added.

And it's that kind of support Veterans like Buzzy truly appreciate.

"This is a blessing, to know that people really care and they go out of their way to drive many miles to put a smile on my face," Buzzy said.

Everything was donated by the local community around Springfield, providing enough to fill 500 bags, plus extra toiletries the Illinois Veterans Home can use in the future.