Breakfast held to honor veterans

JOHNSONVILLE—It was an unusually bitter day, with rain, wind and cold hovering over the area as the fringes of the nor’ eastern Ida passed by, when approximately 40 military veterans from all branches of service and varying ages gathered for breakfast at Johnsonville Middle School. The veterans braved the inclement weather to attend the event held in their honor at 8 a.m. on Veterans Day, November 11.
Greeted by Principal Randy Willis and Assistant Principal Alana Prosser, the group met in the school library where they socialized before moving to the cafeteria. The entrance to the library had been made festive with fall foliage, plants, potted mums and military décor.

There, Willis invited the veterans to partake of a breakfast prepared especially for them, thanking each of for their sacrifices and their service to this country. It was not a continental breakfast but a “down home” man pleasing breakfast of grits, sausages, scrambled eggs, breads and all the trimmings, including a variety of fruits, juices, milk and coffee. The cafeteria staff prepared the meal and was assisted by students in serving who also were available to assist the guests in meeting their every need. They also removed the trays when the veterans had finished the delightful meal.

They came in uniform, dressed in suits with their ribbons attached, ties and vests designed especially for them as veterans and some came more relaxed and comfortable in casual attire.
Each year students at the school who have a close relative who attends the veterans program were dismissed from class in order to spend that time with their relatives.

One man, Jimmy McPhetridge of Andrews, came to be with his grandchildren, sixth grader Brittney Ray, 11 and fifth grader Brandon Ray, 10. McPhetridge talked about his military career, having served 22 years in the Air Force. He saw duty in Vietnam, Turkey and Japan. From 1966-1970, he was stationed at San Antonia and retired from Brooks AF Base in 1974. He was pastor of a church while he was in San Antonia and fills in for local churches now if they need him, but does not have a regular assignment.

McPhetridge said he enjoys life, serving where he is needed and devoting time to his grandchildren, especially attending ball games with them.

He said he thought he had done the wrong thing when he first retired, having difficulty to adjust, but has since come to say he did the right thing.

On the block of Maple Street on which the school stands, all entranceways and walks were outlined with small American flags, the work of a group of students recruited for the exercise. Willis said they were perfectly aligned. He noted that the students used a tape measure to mark the distance of 15 feet between each flag.

Not only that, the young men were at the entrances to the building to assist the guests by meeting them with umbrellas and escorting them to library.

At the end of the affair these young men also assisted guests in getting to their vehicles with umbrellas and any other way they were needed.

Willis gave a special invitation to the veterans to attend the program at the Elementary School at 9 a. m.