Labor of love: Car enthusiast brings veteran tribute Mustang to Lebanon VA Medical Center

Robert Villeaume’s father served from 1956-1960 in the Army 101st out of Staten Island, New York. Villeaume said it was working with is father's 1978 K5 Blazer that gave him a love for cars.

"It needed to have the engine rebuilt," he said. "I was sitting inside the engine bay back then, helping him replace the engine. I believe from there is where kind of my love of cars took off."

Over the years, Villeaume has tinkered with several Ford Mustangs, fixing and reselling them before moving on to the next one. But his latest mustang has become a movable shrine to veterans of every branch of the United States military, including his father's time in the service.

On Friday, May 3, Villeaume’s military tribute Mustang GT California Special was on display outside of the Lebanon VA Medical Center for local veterans as part of an East Coast tour to support and bring awareness to veteran issues. Villeaume's Mustang also traveled to Rhinebeck, New York, for the 60th Anniversary of Mustang event over the weekend.

"I brought the Mustang here to share with our veterans," he said. "Our veterans are our heroes. The men and women who have given everything for us, so for me to give something back is kind of a no brainer."

Villeume's latest Mustang is one that he considers to be family, as it represents both his father's memory and the memory of his late daughter, The Lancaster garbage man said he always wanted a big family and has two healthy boys. But working on this Mustang helps him remember what could have been.

"My wife and I have lost children, so the car is named after our last lost," the Lancaster native said. "The car's name is Faith, and the vinyl and colors represent my dad."

Villeaume attends multiple car events with his Mustang, and veterans started to sign areas of his car in support of their fallen comrades. Villeaume said he doesn't make veterans sign his car, but it has been an honor to showcase the many veterans who have.

The car is filled with signatures from veterans who've gotten to see Villeaume's vehicle − through areas like the seats, spoiler and engine parts. Stating that "the Mustang is a garage kept car," most of the signatures on the outside are clear coated to protect them from the elements.

But when asked how many signatures are on his Mustang, Villeaume said he is not sure and has never counted.

"It's only because I don't want to treat them how they were treated," he said. "They were treated as a number, and me putting a number to that name is treating them as they were treated. That's something I just can't do."

Villeaume added that he's been given trinkets and mementos of service men who have signed the car, and he's working on a book about those signatories.

The tribute Mustang has been up and down the East Coast over the past three years, and last year it was at the Ford headquarters in Detroit. From October 2023 to March 2024, Villeaume's car was at the Mustang Owners Museum in North Carolina, where it was on display for people over the winter.

"At the end of the day, I want them to know there are individuals who still care about what they've done, what they've sacrificed (and) what they gave us," he said.

Matthew Toth is a reporter for the Lebanon Daily News. Reach him at mtoth@ldnews.com or on X at @DAMattToth.

This article originally appeared on Lebanon Daily News: Lebanon VA Medical Center rolls in veteran tribute Ford Mustang