Charity auction helps feed returning troops
Cattle buyers at the Oklahoma National Stockyards did their part Monday to support America’s war fighters. The stockyards and the National Livestock Companies auctioned off a calf donated by an Oklahoma-based cattle feeder company to raise about $50,000 for the All American Beef Battalion. The battalion, founded about 10 years ago, started off by providing cooked ribeye steaks, hamburgers, hot dogs and all the trimmings to select groups of military men and women returning from overseas deployments, as well as their families. Its events grew over time. Organizers say it served about 360,000 meals in 2017, and expects to break that barrier this year through serving up about 400,000 meals at events held at military installations in 26 different states. Jon Fort, the battalion’s senior vice chair, said some of this year’s largest events have fed up to 4,500 military and family members at one time, thanks to charitable contributions made by events like the one held in Oklahoma City on Monday. Fort stressed the battalion’s staff of 45 volunteers are all unpaid, and that the semi-trucks, trailers and smokers used to get food and equipment to various events all are donated to the organization to meet its needs. Fort said the organization was started by Bill Broadie, a Kansan who is a fourthgeneration cattlemen who served the U.S. Marine Corps in Vietnam. He said Broadie, who received two purple hearts before returning home after losing a leg, went on to college and then went back into the cattle business. He said the veteran decided in 2007 he was worried about how returning troops might be treated and decided someone ought to show appreciation — “he wanted to do something different and better”— and that his employer, Superior Livestock, backed his idea wholeheartedly by providing Broadie with its financial support.
Other volunteer labor used to prepare and serve the food is provided by local organizations, including the 4-H Club and National FFA organizations, he said.
“The All American Beef Battalion provides people an opportunity to shake a hand and say thank you to the men and women who service this country, 24-7,” Fort said. “It is a huge honor and blessing to have volunteers that are so dedicated to the simple cause of just wanting to give our servicemen and women thanks for the sacrifices they make to keep us free.” While Broadie couldn’t make Monday’s event, several members of the U.S. Army did attend.
Army Capt. Jacob White, a South Carolina native who is a battery commander for a basic training unit at Fort Sill, has completed a tour in Afghanistan and also Korea during the six years he has served.
While White said he hadn’t yet had a chance to enjoy a battalion meal, he said he knows the thanks is welcomed by returning soldiers.
“It means everything, that other people besides your immediate family appreciate you and the work you do,” White said.
“There’s nothing like a good, home-cooked meal.”