TAMPA, Fla. – Hearts across the nation are heavy this evening as the country mourns the loss of former President George H.W. Bush.

In the Tampa Bay area, members of the local nonprofit Veteran Avian Alliance are remembering when just last year they met Bush and former first lady Barbara Bush at the Bush family compound in Maine.

Patrick Bradley can come up with quite a few words to describe Bush.

"He was just wonderful he was open and warm, and shook everyone's hand," he said.

They only met once, but Bradley said the impact will last a lifetime.

"I got to take something off of my bucket list that I didn't even know was there," Bradley said. "Actually getting to see, meet, and shake hands with the president of the United States, unbelievable."

Bradley and the Avian Veteran Alliance were featured in a book about wounded warriors and their therapy animals. They were then invited to the Bush family compound where they were recognized for their service.

"It saved my life," AVA volunteer Telia Hann said. "I literally attribute this program to saving my life. When I found this program I was going through 8 weeks of inpatient PTSD therapy for my time in service."

The group even brought two screech owls named Lucy and Ricky to meet the former first family.

"President Bush had someone wheel him down to the parking lot so he could greet us as we came in and then walk the whole group back up. He didn't have to do that," Bradley said.

The group said they take comfort in knowing the President is reunited with his long time love.

"At least they're back together again they get to rejoin and be happy wherever they are and live life to the fullest in the spiritual realm of things," Hann said.