- May 6, 2024
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A.L. Blanks was the oldest veteran at the Rotary Club lunch. Photos by Jeff Dawsey
Marine Captrian Ben Reep was the special guest speaker.
On the day of the Marine’s 240th birthday, the Rotary Club of Flagler County held its second-annual Veteran’s Day lunch, welcoming veterans from all branches of all ages, who have served in World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom and Afghanistan, on Tuesday, Nov. 10, at the Grand Club.
As a way to thank former service members for their services, the Rotary Club asks their members to invite a veteran to a free lunch, where they are celebrated for accepting the nation’s challenge to defend their country. All veterans in attendance, along with their branch of service and rank, were acknowledged, and a table was set up in the front, in memory of the veterans who never made it home.
“Being a former Marine, I thought it was what we needed to do, and I think it has blossomed into what you see today,” said John Skripko, the Rotary’s past president. “It’s automatically turning into something that will be an annual event because of the response we’ve received.”
The lunch also celebrated the nation, officers and first responders as a part of its opening observance.
To close the lunch, guest speaker Marine Captain Ben Reep spoke about his time as a soldier, dating back to 9/11. Also in attendance was the Flagler Youth Orchestra, for the consecutive year, which played during the dining stage.
“I think this all says that we get it,” Skripko added. “We have a 94-year-old who fought in World War II, Korea and Vietnam, and we have another gentleman that actually flew on the plane that was following the Enola Gay when they dropped the bombs on Hiroshima. They want to say thank you to those guys because they’re not going to be here much longer.”
“At a lot of your Veteran’s Day events, veterans are usually being talked to, but here, we’re actually celebrating each other.”John Skripko
