VINELAND -- For the past 15 years, hotrod enthusiast Tom Hemple Sr. has celebrated his birthday by giving back to others.
Every Fourth of July, the Bridgeton man and his son, Tommy Jr.,meet for breakfast before traveling with a group of fellow classic car lovers to visit someone at a local hospital or nursing home.
Hemple couldn't make the annual festivities for his 91st birthday this year, because he's hospitalized at South Jersey Healthcare Regional Medical Center.
But early Sunday morning, a long stream of antique cars filed into the hospital parking lot -- loaded down with balloons and homemade cards -- for a surprise birthday visit.
Hemple, who drives a 1931 Model A Ford Coupe, has been a member of Cohanzick Antique Auto Club since it started nearly four decades ago. Longtime friends and club members decided to surprise him this weekend with the parade of classic cars and a public display of support.
Two dozen cars, lovingly buffed and polished, lined up where the nonagenarian could clearly see them from his room on the hospital's top floor. Perched on the trunk of one vehicle was a giant sign reading "Happy Birthday Tom" with an illustration of his coupe.
Family members carefully helped Hemple up from his hospital bed, taking the few steps to the large picture window. The windowsill already was lined with cards wishing him well.
Below, his friends were waiting and waving.
"I like it," he said later, once he was safely back in bed. "It makes an old man happy."
Hemple, one of 17 children, started the tradition of the car club having breakfast and going for a ride many years ago for his brother's birthday.
Once his brother died, family members said, Hemple and the auto club kept the tradition going -- but moved on to visiting others who might need more company.
"It's mixed emotions," said Joel Webster, an auto club member and longtime family friend. "Sometimes people cry when we show up. But everyone's happy."
The oldest of Hemple's three sons, Tommy Jr., was instrumental in pulling off the surprise.
"I didn't even sleep the night before," he said, discussing the careful preparations. After the surprise, he sat by his father's side, showing off a card signed by all the participants.
Hemple's daughter, Beth Richey, was moved to tears, describing the outpouring of support as "phenomenal."
"It's very touching," she said.
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