Church honors veterans with Thanksgiving meal
The quiet man enjoyed his plate overflowing with Thanksgiving dinner amid the crowd gathered at St. Luke Lutheran Church's Butler campus Saturday evening.
But as 96-year-old Army veteran Jim Stark rose and stood before them, you could hear a pin drop inside the crowded fellowship hall of the Freeport Road church — decorated with American flags and red, white and blue balloons.
The Clinton Township man first thanked the church members who prepared the meal especially for veterans and their loved ones with tears in his eyes.
Then, the World War II veteran briefly shared his experience in the fight against tyranny. Stark and his comrades stormed Omaha Beach in Normandy on June 6, 1944. In all, there were 160,000 Allied troops who participated in the attack that helped change the course of history.
“It's very nice of people to do this,” Stark said just before he was called upon to speak. “It's an honor to be honored like this. It's such a wonderful thing for these people to do these things for us after all these years.”
Lori Salsgiver, a member of the church's Missionaries in Butler volunteer group, said the group organized the dinner as a way to honor veterans who served their country. The meal was the brainchild of the group's former pastor, Amadeus Gandy, who developed the mission work. Gandy was an Air Force veteran.
“A lot of times, they come home from service or retire or 'age out' and we don't give them enough gratitude,” Salsgiver said. “If we can provide them with a Thanksgiving meal, that's one small token of appreciation. Obviously it's not enough because they've done much for our country.”
Salsgiver is one of several members of Missionaries in Butler. The missionary team kicked off in May and meets biweekly at the church on Wednesdays. Team members hope to make a difference in Butler through mission work such as Saturday's dinner for area veterans and summer programs the group ran at Father Marinaro Park.Another aspect is sharing the church's mission and garnering interest. The group also hopes to set an example for youth about the importance of helping neighbors.“I thought it was just wonderful that they're doing this,” said Stark's friend, Anna Freehling, adding how she thought it especially touching the group also invited family members of the veterans.Friends and fellow veterans Edward A. Janoski and Earl Mowery not only came out for the event, but even dressed in their old uniforms.“People need to know that the world has wonderful people in it,” said 88-year-old Mowery.The Saxonburg man, a veteran of the Navy, added that he was touched by people who had never been in the service preparing a meal for local veterans and welcoming them as though they were old friends.“People don't realize what the servicemen did for their country to save the world,” added Janoski, 88, an Army veteran who lives in Cabot.
