'Thank you for protecting us from the bad guys' - #lakewoodnews

Veterans who attended Bethlehem Lutheran's Veterans Day brunch dined on pasta and finished the meal with an assortment of cookies and brownies --; but the sweetest part was yet to come.

Students at the church's school wrote letters of thank you to the veterans, which were given to them at the end of the event.

"Thank you for protecting us from the bad guys," one student wrote. "The world would fall apart without you. God bless you and your family."

The event was organized by the church's Mary Martha Society, a service group for the church's women, as a way to honor service members of all generations.

"It's a community that often doesn't get the recognition they deserve," said Pastor David Langewisch. "We'll also be honoring them during our Thanksgiving services."

The brunch featured a performance from Allegra Braasch's first- and second-grade bell choir, comments from Lakewood Mayor Adam Paul and Mayor Pro Tem Ramey Johnson. All the food was served by the school's National Junior Honor Society.

"Thank you for your service, both during active duty and during peacetime," Paul said in his remarks. "Thank you for loving your neighbors, many of whom you'll never meet, by saying 'I will serve.' "

The Mary Martha Society reached out to veterans who regularly attend the church, said Hazel Hartbarger, chair of the committee that organized the brunch. About 100 people opted to participate, including 11 veterans from Bethlehem Lutheran's "The Table" program, which is a special meal and service for the nearby homeless population.

There was also one small table with a single empty chair to honor all service people who are missing.

For the veterans who attended, the brunch was a chance to receive and give thanks.

"I've been a member of the church since 1985," said Phyl Vanderpool, a 94-year-old former chief yeoman in the Navy. "It's a good day to remember the soldiers, sailors and more who defended our country."

from Lakewood Sentinel - Latest Stories http://lakewoodsentinel.com/stories/Thank-you-for-protecting-us-from-the-bad-guys,239265