. >> reporter: it was just another day at causeway alterations in dunedin, florida, when out of the bluehis elderly man walked in. >> morning! >> reporter: and asked if someone could make him a navy uniform. why does a 97-year-old need a navy uniform? >> i loved the uniform. i loved my country, and i'm so help me, i was able to serve. >> reporter: is this you? >> that's me, yeah. >> reporter: joe hall served in world war ii as a navy petty officer first class. is that your ship? >> yeah. >> reporter: he was on a destroyer escort, where he made some of the best friends of his life and lost a few too. they're all gone now, which is why joe wanted that uniform, for when he sees them again. susan williams is the seamstress who waited on him. >> i've made everything from underwear to wedding dresses. but to have a world war ii veteran come in and say i want to be buried in my uniform, i was like this man is not leaving this store without me making this uniform, because it's the most important thing i'll ever do my life. and it became a strong obsession of mine to make it right. >> reporter: f

." >> reporter: it was just another day at causeway alterations at dunedin, florida, when out of then walked in. >> morning. >> reporter: and asked if someone could make him a navy uniform. why does a 97-year-old need a navy uniform? >> i love the uniform and love my country and i'm so happy i was able to serve. >> reporter: is that you? that's me, yeah. >> reporter: joe hall served in world war ii as a navy poferlts first class. >> reporter: is that your ship? >> yes. >> reporter: he was on a destroyer escort where he made some of his best friends and lost a few. they are all gone now. which is why he wanted the uniform, for when he sees them again. susan williams is the seamstress who weighted on him. >> i've made everything from underwear to wedding dresses, but to have a world war ii veteran come in and say i want to be buried in my uniform, he's not leaving the store without me making the uniform because it is is most important thing i'll ever do in my life and it became a stroke obsession for me to make it right. >> reporter: for the next three weeks, susan poured herself into

i'm standing in front of the fenway hotel in swanky dunedin. it is nice here.down, seven, seven people managed to keep this plasticking over barely. when things started to reopen, we had a hard time finding workers, then as you said on a june 26th, florida and governor ron desantis decided enough was enough, no more $300 a week in extra unemployment benefits. guess what, all the effort to find workers suddenly started to change. listen to the general manager, mickey melendez. take a listen. >> i would see almost an immediate impact especially with the application process seeing the flow through especially email. we saw an uptick. save 40% may not seem like a lot but after the pandemic it is pretty impressive. reporter: basically, jackie, it was instantaneous. if this was fully staffed this hotel you would have 90 employees. now they have 52. yes they're hiring but doing very well, thank you very much but as you mentioned earlier there is a lawsuit. let's not forget in indiana and maryland, similar lawsuits were filed and judges in those states issued an injunct

. >> it was just another day at causeway alterations in dunedin, florida.if someone could make him a navy uniform. why does a 97-year-old need a navy uniform? >> i love the uniform. i love my country, and i'm so happy i was able to serve. >> joe hall served in world war ii as a navy petty officer first class. he was on a destroyer escort, where he made some of the best friends of his life, and lost a few, too. they're all gone now, which is why joe wanted that uniform, for when he sees them again. susan williams is the seamstress who waited on him. >> i've made everything from underwear to wedding dresses, but to have a world war ii veteran come in and say, i want to be buried in my uniform, i'm like this man is not leaving this store without me making this uniform, because it is the most important thing i'll do in my life. >> for the next three weeks, susan poured herself into this project, binding every seam, satin-lined cuffs, button holes by hand. she spent at least 100 hours and charged almost nothing. >> oh, beautiful. >> joe actually got his uniform

i'm in the rooftop bar of the fenway hotel in dunedin, florida. on the golf course, ocean.at the very height of the pandemic lockdown, only seven people managed to keep this thing ticking over. now 52 employees, apparently heading up. let me bring in the general manager, nicky melendez. for a while you had trouble finding people to hire, didn't you? >> very challenging. not just for us but pinellas county as well. ashley: governor desantis said i'm cutting off benefits. have you seen more people come in. >> yes. we've seen 40% increase. ashley: 40%. >> that is great for us. with social media and instagram. it has been terrific. seeing a increase pretty much like that in 60 days. ashley: this is slow period. height of the heat. 52 employees you're able to function pretty well? >> absolutely. strong shoutout to the seven individuals. it is about the core, culture that you bring in. it is exciting to see that. not only 52 associates now, a lot are original staff members. a lot of new members that came in are still with us today. ashley: thank you, governor desantis. thank you,