STRONGSRQ VETERANS DAY DRIVEWAY CLEANING PROJECT
Five from us. More with Sarasota’s help.
Each Veterans Day, Strong Landscape & Pressure Wash sets aside time to provide free driveway cleanings for local veterans.
For 2026, StrongSRQ is committing to clean at least five veterans’ driveways at no charge, with the hope that local businesses, organizations, and members of our community will help us reach even more.
There is no purchase required, no additional service required, and no obligation attached to receiving a cleaning.
This project is dedicated to Captain William Washington Strong, U.S. Navy (Retired) — my grandfather, and the man our family knew simply as “Boompa.”
CAPTAIN WILLIAM WASHINGTON STRONG
William Washington Strong was born at the Presidio in San Francisco on May 2, 1922, and later attended Bullis Prep before receiving an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy. He graduated early during World War II and served aboard the destroyer USS Heywood L. Edwards in the South Pacific before entering flight training in 1946. He earned his Wings of Gold as a Naval Aviator in 1947.
His Navy career went on to include carrier aviation, command responsibilities, attendance at the Naval War College, service aboard multiple aircraft carriers, participation in Operation Deep Freeze in Antarctica, service with the Joint Chiefs of Staff, command of the Navy Weapons Evaluation Facility at Kirtland Air Force Base, and service as Inspector General of the Defense Nuclear Agency. A Naval Academy memorial also records that he “went to Top Gun” in 1963–64, reflecting the advanced weapons and aviation training that was part of his career at the time. He retired from the Navy on June 30, 1974, with the rank of Captain after thirty-three years of service.
After retiring from the Navy, Boompa stayed busy. He worked as a farrier specializing in equine hoof care, went back to school to study for electrical, plumbing, and general contractor licenses, and later worked in construction alongside his sons and daughters building homes in New Mexico and a family cabin in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. He also enjoyed flying civilian aircraft, repairing things, working on cars, spending time outdoors, and being around horses.
He and his wife, Jane Marie Junker Strong — “Gramsie” to our family — raised twelve children, five daughters and seven sons, and built a large family whose values of hard work, responsibility, discipline, service, and family commitment continued through generations.
Boompa passed away on March 12, 2016 — my birthday. Since then, that day has taken on a different meaning for me, and each year it has also become a day when I remember him and the influence he had on our family. He and Gramsie are both buried at Sarasota National Cemetery, here in Sarasota.
To the Navy, he was Captain William Washington Strong.
To us, he was Boompa.
A LESSON FROM BOOMPA I NEVER FORGOT
One of my most ingrained memories of Boompa happened when I was a young boy. He was visiting our family, and we had recently finished building an addition onto our house. He tasked me with cleaning up the trash and construction debris around the outside. I picked up what I thought was the obvious trash, looked around, and called it done.
Later, Boompa came and found me and brought me back outside. He asked why I had not finished cleaning up and pointed out all the small pieces of trash still along the outside walls of the house. I remember having to do it all over again, this time on my hands and knees, picking what seemed like the tiniest pieces of trash out of the dirt and grass. At the time, it honestly felt like overkill.
When I was done and had earned his approval, I remember he said, “When somebody asks Mark Strong to do a job, do I want them to think I only did the bare minimum, or do I want there to be no question that it was done to the best of my ability?” For whatever reason, those words stuck with me, and the feeling of being called back to finish something I thought I had already done was downright embarrassing. It left an indelible mark on my character, even though I did not fully realize it until many years later.
Boompa’s lesson is a standard that is still a big part of how we try to operate Strong Landscape & Pressure Wash today.
HONORING SERVICE THROUGH SERVICE
There are many ways to thank a veteran. For us, one of the most meaningful is simply to use the work we know how to do.
For the 2026 Veterans Day Driveway Project, StrongSRQ is committing to provide at least five free full residential driveway cleanings for local veterans. There is no purchase required, no additional service required, and no obligation attached to receiving a cleaning.
We are especially hoping to reach senior veterans, disabled veterans, retired veterans, and others who may have difficulty keeping up with exterior home maintenance themselves. Veterans may nominate themselves, or they may be nominated by family, friends, neighbors, veterans organizations, churches, caregivers, local businesses, or anyone who knows someone they believe should be considered.
This is not a random drawing. We will review nominations and choose participants based on the information provided, individual circumstances, location, property accessibility, and our ability to safely complete the work.
If we can take one job off a veteran’s list, improve the appearance of their home, and let them know their service is remembered, then this project has accomplished what we set out to do.
FIVE FROM US. MORE WITH SARASOTA’S HELP.
StrongSRQ is providing the first five veteran driveway cleanings.
We would love to help more.
Local businesses, churches, veterans organizations, community groups, and individuals who want to support the project can help us reach additional veterans. Every additional sponsor or partner may allow us to provide one more free driveway cleaning.
We are also interested in connecting with organizations that already work directly with senior veterans, disabled veterans, retired service members, or veterans who could use some extra help around their homes.
If your business or organization would like to participate, sponsor an additional cleaning, or help us reach local veterans, please contact StrongSRQ.
NOMINATE A LOCAL VETERAN
Veterans may nominate themselves, or they may be nominated by family members, friends, neighbors, caregivers, churches, veterans organizations, local businesses, or other members of the community.
Please tell us a little about the veteran, their circumstances, and why you would like us to consider them for the StrongSRQ Veterans Day Driveway Project.
Submitting a nomination does not guarantee selection. Selected participants will be contacted directly before any service is scheduled.