Two Year Anniversary for Veteran's Breakfast

Laughter is the main ingredient at the monthly Honor Flight/Veterans' Breakfast at St. Malachy's Hall. It's fun to reminisce and tell experiences from Uncle Sam's military service. "I look forward to this breakfast every month," can be heard from the veterans attending.

This month marks the second anniversary of the Veterans' Breakfast and January 27 found 130 vets, including wives and friends, enjoying the meal served to them by volunteers. The camaraderie of reliving memories in the U.S. Air Force (once in a while U.S. Army Air Corps) , U.S. Navy, U.S. Marines, U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Army are rehashed and shared with other vets attending. As time passes it often turns out that the things grumbled about on active duty, can turn into fond memories.

Some vets have been on the Honor Flight but still the locals who live in the community seldom see one another except for the gathering, which was initiated by coordinators Pam and Tom Stenson.

This local breakfast is a hub of the Kern County Honor Flight in Bakersfield. Many veterans were not able to travel the distance to Bakersfield so the local veterans Organization and their Auxiliaries show up to help. Father Mark Maxon, also a veteran, provided the meeting place and the rest is history.

When each branch of the service is called for by a trumpet playing their specific military hymn, the veterans stand to represent their branch of service. Applause always follows.

Anyone wishing to attend this affair on the fourth Saturday of each month, simply needs to show up! It's a good time.