Never forgotten: High school hosts breakfast for those who`ve served

A local high school is ready to give back to those who’ve served. Bishop Hendricken is hosting a Veteran’s Day pancake breakfast where veterans and military can eat for free.

The breakfast is the idea of teacher Billy Johnston. He has friends, family, and students who were or are in the military, so the subject has always been close to his heart.

“We forget things at times and we just need to say thank you. I want [veterans] to know that we never really forget about them. Even if they’re away, we’re still thinking about them,” he said.

The breakfast is something he’s wanted to do for a while. He wants to let veterans past and present know that he and students thankful for the way they’re able to live in this nation. Even if the veterans cannot be at the breakfast, they can know that it’s for them, he said.

But the breakfast is more than just a symbolic gesture. Donations accepted at the event will help assemble care packages to send to deployed Hendricken alumni and to the National Guard. Johnston remembers when a student who was sent a care package once while he was deployed sent back photos of himself wearing the gear. This year, they’re sending a Hendricken sweatshirt, bag, pair of shorts, a letter saying with thoughts and prayers signed by the Student Body leadership, and a T-shirt they made.

Johnston said he’ll be cooking pancakes and that Dunkin Donuts will donate coffee. He also had numerous students volunteer to help serve, greet, and clean up at the event.

“I didn’t even have to ask them,” he said.

The breakfast will be held on Veterans Day (Friday, November 11) from 8 a.m.-11 a.m. at the Bishop Hendricken cafeteria. Donations will be accepted and all proceeds will go towards sending care packages to deployed Bishop Hendricken Alumni and the National Guard. Admission for veterans and military is free, and all others can get in by making a donation. Suggested donations for packages include hard candy, chewing gum, hand lotion, white socks, Tic-Tacs, playing cards, tissues and hand wipes. Monetary donations will go toward putting together the Hendricken-themed care packages for deployed alums of the school and item donations will be given to the National Guard.

THANKING THOSE WHO SERVED:

Though he preferred not to be in a photo so the focus could be on the veterans his breakfast will serve, editor John Howell got Bishop Hendricken teacher Billy Johnston to smile for one.