Veterans honored with dinner
If actions speak louder than words, then veterans in Sanders County heard a resounding thank you from community members in Hot Springs as the senior center hosted it’s annual Veteran’s Day Dinner last Thursday.
“These men and their families put their lives on hold for our freedoms,” Karen Evans said. “They need to be acknowledged for what they have done.”
Evans has been mcee of the event for the past several years. She has since compiled a list of materials comprising the events program to honor local heroes.
“Sometimes this is the only acknowledgement that these guys get all year, because their lives have taken turns that I’m sure they wish they didn’t go,” Evans said. “It’s important to remember them for what they did do.”
The names of the nearly 130 veterans in the community were read aloud, including the four veteran who have lost their lives since last year’s event: Joe Pavelich, Richard Schaeffer, Daniel Peters and Larry Ward.
Evans also plans to start a book, recording the name of each veteran who has passed because although each one is important, there simply isn’t time at one dinner to read so many names.
In possibly the evenings most touching event, Evans described the symbolic meaning of the place settings at an empty table.
The round table is for everlasting concern for the missing men. The white table cloth is for the purity of soldiers motives when called to duty. A single red rose in the vase, represents each missing life, and his loved ones and friends keeping the faith. A red ribbon on the vase stands for continued dedication to account for the missing. A slice of lemon is for the bitter fate of those captured or missing. A pinch of salt is for the tears of those missing and their families. A bible is for the strength gained through faith, sustaining those lost from the country which was founded as one nation under God. An inverted glass represents the soldiers inability to share the evening toast. And the empty chairs show that they are missing.
“It was a pretty good turnout and people liked it and seemed to really appreciate it,” Hank Huigen, veteran and former vice president of the senior, center said of the more than 100 people in attendance. “It was very good. We had an excellent meal, and the musical program was nice.”
John Brass led the band and choir including drums, piano and guitar in the singing of patriotic songs like the Battle Hymn of the Republic, the Marine Hymn, Anchors Away, Up We Go and the Wild Blue Yonder.
“Some of the kids from the high school served the meal,” Huigen said. “That was nice of them, having to give up a Thursday night to do that for the veterans.”
In fact, numerous members of the Hot Springs community came together to make this event possible including members of the senior center and the band.
“There’s a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes and it wouldn’t come together without everyone participating,” Evans said. “I appreciate the community invovement and their turnout because we couldn’t have a program if they didn’t come.”