Dozens of military veterans gathered Friday morning at Festival Foods in Kenosha for a special Veterans Day breakfast at the American Heroes Café, days before Veterans Day on Nov. 11.
The breakfast was part of the café's weekly gathering for local veterans. It included a complimentary buffet sponsored by Bob and Chris Margetson, along with remarks honoring the veterans and their service.
Chaplain Charlie Hansen, an Air Force veteran and pastor of Holy Spirit Community Church, spoke about the day the veterans raised their right hands and took the Oath of Enlistment. He encouraged them to take pride in their service throughout the year, not only on Veterans Day.
Among those attending was 92-year-old Chester Haws, who enlisted in the Army in 1951 at age 17 and served in the Korean War. Haws, a regular at the café, reflected on his service and on friends who did not return home.
Organizer Erin Riley thanked the veterans for their courage, and a county spokesperson also addressed the gathering. Much of the morning was spent in conversation over breakfast and coffee among veterans wearing military hats, patriotic clothing and service medals.
