Veterans

Eminence Christian Church honors local veterans at annual breakfast

Send a link to a friend  Share

[November 21, 2019]  For the fifth year, Eminence Christian Church in rural Atlanta/Lincoln hosted its annual Veterans Day Breakfast this past Saturday in the fellowship hall. Approximately 50 veterans and two veteran widows were in attendance.

Among those in the group was a large number of Marines from the local Marine Corps League. The local League assists the church with the breakfast each year. Also on hand was Mike Fulk, Patriot Guard Commander, who came ahead of time and lined the driveways and area around the church with flags.

The day began with volunteers from the church greeting veterans as they arrived. Each veteran or widow was given a red carnation boutonniere/corsage and assisted in finding a seat at one of the many tables set up.

 



In the kitchen, volunteers were busy wrapping up the last bits of breakfast preparation. For them the day had begun at around 6:30 a.m. with the preparation of scrambled eggs, sausage gravy, biscuits, bacon, sausage patties, toast, hash browns, and pancakes.



As guests arrived, volunteers were busy filling coffee cups or serving juice or bottled water.

When the nine o’clock hour arrived, the day was called to order. Mike Horath presented the American flag and the pledge of allegiance was recited. Christian Village Chaplain Ryan Edgecombe offered up the morning prayer.



The guests then enjoyed special patriotic music performed by Jeaneen Brown and Mattie and Ryan Foreaker. The first song was a medley of military themes.

The young people Mattie and Ryan sang the marching songs for each division of the military. As they sang, those who had served in that branch rose and sang along. A second patriotic song was performed by Brown.

Then it was time to fill plates and enjoy the morning meal. Veterans lined up to assemble a breakfast to their liking. Those who were unable to get in line were served by the volunteers of the church.

[to top of second column]



After breakfast, Marsha Fernandes thanked the veterans all for coming. She asked that each one stand (if possible) and tell their names and their military branch and rank. As they did so, she and Mike Fuller presented each veteran with a gift, a white hanky decorated with their personal branch of the military.

Among the men and women in the room, some shared a little bit about their service. One veteran recalled that he left the service the first time in 1946. He had ended his tour of duty in Occupied Japan, but then he returned to active duty in 1951.

One Marine shared that he had been active in Dessert Storm and another said he is currently serving. Darius Knauer was among the veterans in the room this year and shared that he had been in the Army and served in Korea.

One veteran said that he was 11 years old at the bombing of Pearl Harbor. He recalls specifically asking his dad to tell him what war was. He said his father explained it to him, and it struck a spark. The young child began studying war and as he did, his patriotism grew. So, it seemed a natural transition that as a young adult he should enlist and serve his country.

Another veteran joked that he was career military, serving a total of 20 years. He then concluded “now they pay me a little bit each month to leave them alone!”

One veteran widow said that her husband was in the military from 1940 to 1945. She recalled that at that time Fort Brag was not really built. She said that the soldiers lived in tent cities because there were no barracks. She also shared that her husband served in Africa and it was there he earned his silver star. Had he lived, she said, this year her husband would have been 100 years old.

Marine Veteran Jim Harnacke shared that a member of his family had been in every American war except the Civil War as at that time his family had not yet immigrated to America. For Harnacke military service is a family tradition.

Another veteran said he served in the Viet Nam era state side, and he spent time doing duty as riot control for the anti-war protests in Chicago.

At the end of the day, members of the Marine Corps League talked briefly about some of the service programs they are involved with in Logan County.

It was shared that Memorial Hospital has introduced a military hospice program. The program is being piloted in Sangamon and Logan Counties and is aimed as giving honor and comfort to veterans in their last days. Included in the program is a new “military beatitudes,” which was read aloud Saturday by Marine veteran and leader of the local Hays-Krell Military Order of the Purple Heart.

It was also mentioned that the Marines offer a large number of other services for aging veterans including wheel chairs and walkers, hospital beds and even wheelchair ramps.

After the Marines finished, the day was dismissed with a closing prayer offered by Bob Johnson.

As guests exited the building, last good-byes, expressions of thanks, and lots of hugs were offered to the departing veterans.

As noted already, this is the fifth year for the annual breakfast at the church. The tradition was started by parishioner Marsha Fernandes who felt a strong desire to honor our local military as a tribute to the long heritage of military service in her own family. Fernandes’ father was a veteran. Earlier this year he went home to the Lord, but his legacy lives on through his daughter and her undying devotion to honor all veterans. Thanks to Marsha for sharing her love and patriotism with all our local veterans.


[Nila Smith]

< Recent features

Back to top