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Terminally ill Elvis fan will visit Presley's Memphis mansion.
(Photo By Times-Gazette photo/Duane Martin. Dave VanBremen shows off some of his Elvis Presley collection at his home Wednesday afternoon. The terminally ill Ashland man will visit Graceland for the first time Oct. 20.)
Dave VanBremen shows off some of his Elvis Presley collection at his home Wednesday afternoon. The terminally ill Ashland man will visit Graceland for the first time Oct. 20.
Dave VanBremen harbors a "hunka, hunka burnin' love" for all things Elvis Presley. And, in a few weeks, he will buckle up his blue suede shoes and head for Graceland, eager to lay eyes upon his idol's mansion for the first time.
When Dave's cell phone rang one Tuesday night late in September, he knew who was calling. But he still couldn't believe it.
Priscilla Presley's voice carried across the line, traveling across miles of sound waves to invite Dave to Graceland in Memphis, Tenn., a dream of his for years.
"As soon as I'm outside that place, I'll be on cloud nine," said Dave. "If I get to meet her, that'd be the best time."
Priscilla is a Dream Foundation ambassador and has worked with the foundation the past 10 years, helping to bring foundation members' dreams to fruition. The Dream Foundation is a program aiming to fulfill lifelong dreams of terminally ill adults. Dave, 48, was diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer and liver failure in May, at which point his family began applying to the Dream Foundation, hoping to give Dave one last gift.
"I can't wait to see his face when we get to Graceland," said Heather Coffman, Dave's niece. "It's something he's always wanted to do and we're excited for him."
Priscilla quizzed Dave on song names, movie names and other trivia.
"I think she wanted to see if I was legit," said Dave.
Dave has been an Elvis devotee since before he reached the double digits and has been an avid collector of Elvis memorabilia for more than 15 years. He even has an entire room he dubs his "Elvis room."
The Elvis room houses Dave's extensive collection, including anything from Elvis records to Elvis Elmo to unopened Reese Cup packages with an Elvis emblem.
Coffman recalls an occasion when family members gave her Uncle Dave an Elvis puzzle to put together and frame. However, Dave refused to break the package's seal and the family had to buy him a replica of the puzzle to put on display.
Dave also, although humbly, can do an Elvis impersonation.
To help finance the trip to Graceland, the family held a sock hop benefit Sept. 29 at
Ashland American Legion. The fund-raiser brought in $1,800 with more than 100 people in attendance.
"It was good for him to know he has that kind of support," said Kim VanBremen, Dave's wife. "I think he knows that now."
Dan Doubek, owner of Main Street Tattoos in Ashland, agreed to give Dave a free portrait tattoo of Elvis. The cost of the tattoo, valued at $250, Doubek said, could help defray the cost of the Graceland trip.
During the trip, Dave will have the opportunity to tour Elvis' 14-acre estate and Graceland mansion; shop on Beale Street, a roadway inundated with blues history, formerly known as Beale Avenue, and visit Sun Studios, the recording studio where Elvis began his career. Dave also plans to add his name to the brick wall outside Graceland mansion where fans have been signing their names for half a century.
Since Dave's diagnosis earlier this year, his wife and family have provided unending support, helping him deal with the news and working together to make the Graceland dream a reality.
"It's been a long journey," said Kim.
And, although Dave's life has changed drastically in the past few months, he knows one thing for certain. He will travel to Graceland Oct. 20.
