SAYING THANK YOU
Area veterans and families feted at James Busher Memorial Veterans Appreciation Lunch
BRUNSWICK, N.Y. » Local veterans and their families enjoyed a complimentary meal in appreciation for their service on Saturday at the Brunswick Lodge of Elks.
The James Busher Memorial Veterans Appreciation Lunch was held Saturday afternoon at the Brunswick Lodge of Elks #2556, a benevolent organization that fosters community and volunteerism.
Sponsored by the Brunswick Elks and Ladies Auxiliary, the lunch was free to all veterans and their immediate family members.
The annual luncheon is named after the late James Busher, a local Korean War veteran and longtime Elks leader who was instrumental in starting the Veterans Appreciation event tradition. He also helped in designating Hoosick Street in Troy as the Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway.
“He was my hero,” said Busher’s wife Marie.
A past president of the Ladies Auxiliary, Marie serves as the chairwoman of the yearly James Busher Memorial Veterans Appreciation Lunch. “Elks are very dedicated to honoring veterans, and this is an event we hold every year here,” she said. “The Elks and Ladies Auxiliary, we love doing this every year. All the volunteer staff come in and thank our veterans.”
The luncheon serves as a small way to say thank you for the veterans’ service and sacrifice. Nearly 100 attendees typically gather at the Elks Lodge for the event.
Saturday’s Italian- style buffet included a hearty offering of pasta, meatballs, salad, sausage with peppers and dessert.
Veterans like Nelson Sweener of Troy like being part of the Veterans Appreciation Lunch each November. “It’s a great event,” said Nelson, who is involved in several local veterans organizations.
“This is a thank you from the community Elks to our veterans. It’s aligned with our Elks pledge that as long as there are veterans, Elks will never forget them,” said Michael Pendergast, exalted ruler of the Brunswick Lodge of Elks.
While many groups offer similar events on Veterans Day and throughout National Veterans and Military Families Month, “The community of Brunswick, we like to do our own thank you to the vets,” Pendergast said.
Many of the local Elks members, like past exalted ruler Frank DeWolf of Brunswick, are veterans themselves. “We’re involved very deeply with the veterans,” he said, reciting the Elks motto “As long as there are Veterans, the Elks will never forget them.”
In addition to the annual Veterans Appreciation Lunch, the Brunswick Elks visit the VA Medical Center once a month to serve ice cream and popcorn, and hold a picnic for veterans each summer.
More information about the Brunswick Elks Lodge and its other upcoming events is available online at facebook.com/BrunswickElks or by calling (518) 2791344.