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 Marsha Fernandes, who organizes the even each
year, was excited to see the grand turn out. She noted they had
counted 53 veterans and some who attended with their spouses, so it
was the best turn out yet. They had also increased the amount of
food prepared, and it worked out nearly perfectly with many dishes
wiped clean by the time the last person had made it through the
line.
One veteran who spoke during the time of introductions after
breakfast noted that this year there were more young veterans in the
group. A good thing to see, as it is still the youth of our
community and our country who will continue to keep our traditions
alive and do the things that help us to remember the freedom we
enjoy today came with a price.
Among those young veterans in the room, there were young men who
have served and come home. As they introduced themselves they spoke
about tours in Iraq, time spent in “every middle eastern town you
can name, and a few you can’t.”
Along with the young men who served, it was good to
see younger women in the group as well, and very touching to see a
young man and woman in attendance with their young daughters. Both
were veterans who had served their country, and now home raising a
family in the land of the free, thanks to their own efforts.
At breakfast time, veterans who were able went to the
line to be served biscuits and gravy, scrambled eggs, sausage,
bacon, pancakes and toast.
Those who were unable were served plates stacked by
volunteers of the church with a little bit of everything from the
line.
The help provided during the meal included several young people of
the church. Three young men were kept busy at the coffee station as
dozens of cups of coffee and hot chocolate were served up, along
with another volunteer making trips around the tables with orange
juice.
Abie Ramsey, Aly
McDonald, Michelle Morgan Each year the
morning special music is provided by students from Lincoln Christian
University. This year the group was a trio of young women who sang:
America the Beautiful, Out of His Great Love, and the National
Anthem. The singers this year were Michelle Morgan, Abie Ramsey, and
Aly McDonald.
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 During the time of introductions, each soldier in
the room stood and told what branch of the service they were
enlisted in, the years they served, and when applicable the war or
conflict they were involved in. It was noted that this year there
were 12 soldiers who had been at the event two years ago, who have
since passed away. Jim Harnacke, who is
commandant of the Bob Graue Marine Corps League Detachment 1336 noted that this is the
243rd anniversary year of the United State Marines.
Another soldier remembered that November 11th, 2018 marked the 100th
year of Armistice Day.
Michelle Ramlow, a veteran and also now district commander over the
Veterans of Foreign War and former commander of the Cronin Brothers
VFW in Lincoln spoke about the other women who were in the room, as
there were a number of female veterans present. Ramlow said those
women paved the way for her to be as involved as she is now with the
VFW, and also paved the way for her to be a career service woman.
Ramlow also remembered her grandfather, a veteran who passed away just
before Veteran’s Day last year, and proudly introduced her mother, a
Veteran widow,
who was with her at the breakfast.
Another veteran spoke about his career in the military. He served in
1967 and 1968 in Vietnam as a Chaplain’s Assistant. He said that his
time spent in the service as well as in the service of God was what
led him to become a pastor when he came home.
There were several other new people in the group, including well
known veterans Bill Gossett, who served in the U.S. Army Air Corps
in World War II, and Dean Bruns who served in the Army and was
stationed in Ammunition dumps around the country.
As the day came to a close, it was announced that
local wood carver Ivan Rademaker had made special gifts for each
veteran in the room. A lovely hand carved trivet was handed out by
the young people of the church to each veteran.
The day ended with a prayer of thanksgiving for the soldiers who
have served our country and a remembrance of those still in active
duty.
The Saturday event was just one of several that were held around the
county this weekend. Each special event was designed to remember,
respect, and so appreciate our veterans, as well as our active duty
soldiers.
[Nila Smith]
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