Food, fellowship and gratitude shared with those who served
By Steve Mitchell, Ashland.news
Local veterans were treated to a free breakfast on Tuesday, Nov. 11, at Ashland Elks Lodge No. 944 in honor of their service to the country on Veterans Day.
Members of Ashland Scout Troop 112 arrived as early as 6:15 a.m. to help set up, serve food, and share conversations with veterans.
Assistant Scoutmaster Kevin Calkins said about 20 scouts volunteered for the event and were eager to participate.
Calkins, a retired U.S. Navy chief petty officer, said he was impressed with how the troop showed up for the occasion.
“There’s something about being here, talking to veterans and serving them that really inspires the scouts,” he said.
The troop has helped with Veterans Day breakfasts since 2017, Calkins said. Over the years, the scouts have partnered with either the American Legion or the Elks Lodge.
About 70 veterans attended last year’s breakfast, and the goal Tuesday was to exceed that number, he said.
For scouts Solomon Finney, 13, and Leo Garcia, 17, the event is one of their favorites to attend.
The breakfast has become a community tradition, offering veterans a chance to reflect on their service and connect with others who have shared similar experiences.
Army veteran Leon Mosley, who served in the Korean War, said he didn’t fully appreciate his service until later in life. Looking back, he said the Army helped him “grow up.”
Also attending was Joe Hedberg, a representative from the Jackson County Veteran Services Office.
Hedberg, an Army veteran who served in the Iraq War, said the county office helps veterans and their families by sharing information about benefits and offering assistance and advocacy.
Many veterans are unsure about their eligibility for benefits, according to the county office’s website.
Hedberg said the office offers free support to help veterans learn about available benefits, resources and how to access them.
Rhonda Haney, public relations representative for the Elks Lodge, said the breakfast also gives veterans an opportunity to learn about local resources available to them.
Haney, a retired Army veteran who later worked for the Department of Veterans Affairs, said it’s important to her to “pass it forward.”
“We can help ourselves, and we can help each other,” she said.
Meanwhile, cooks and Elks members Pete Iacullo and Jack Smith said the Veterans Day breakfast is among many events the organization hosts to support local veterans.
Smith said volunteering to cook breakfast is a simple way to show gratitude to those who served.
Smith and Iacullo arrived at the lodge at 4:30 a.m. to start preparing the meal.
“They did a lot for us,” Smith said. “The least we can do for them is cook them a little breakfast.”
Email Ashland.news associate editor Steve Mitchell at stevem@ashland.news.
