Veterans Breakfast Held At Woodcrest Villa

Bill Terry, who founded the Lancaster County Veterans Breakfast Club, which meets on the third Saturday of each month, worked with Marc Spiridigliozzi and others to bring Todd DePastino, executive director of the Veterans Breakfast Club, from Pittsburgh to Woodcrest Villa for a special breakfast event on Sept. 17.

More than 70 area veterans gathered to hear from DePastino, see Blankets of Honor bestowed, and hear and tell their stories among others who understand. "We get Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, National Guard, Marines," said DePastino, who briefly interviewed a Marine named Ed Moreau while waiting for breakfast to be served. Moreau relayed what it was like to be the lone Marine in a family of Navy veterans. "My Dad said, 'I can forgive you because the Marine Corps is a department of the Navy,'" Moreau recalled. "I said, 'That's right, Dad; it's the men's department.'"

DePastino also spoke to Sara Hodgkiss, who transformed her family's farm into an official nonprofit equine-assisted therapy organization for veterans and people with disabilities called Woerth It Hollow. Hodgkiss told DePastino about her six years of service as a human resources information management specialist for 3,500 to 4,500 soldiers at a time.

Terry was interviewed about his unusual service as a Navy diving medical technician, who dove wearing suits of 180 to 300 pounds. Terry explained how he was trained to place IVs and perform minor surgery.

The first Blanket of Honor recipient at the breakfast was Spiridigliozzi. DePastino asked Spiridigliozzi about his time in the Army in Vietnam. "I was a light weapons infantry man," said Spiridigliozzi, who took part in about 26 combat assaults with a Huey helicopter, which he called the "Calvary's horse in Vietnam."

Manny Acuna with Blankets of Honor presented Spiridigliozzi with a blanket, wrapping it around the veteran's shoulders and saying, "We are here for you." Joined by Terry and DePastino, the group offered prayer, with Acuna noting, "For your service, you shall not be forgotten. We thank you for your sacrifices."

Blankets of Honor are given to Gold Star family members and other supporters of veterans. Acuna brought a supporter blanket to present to DePastino. "It represents the people who guard the freedom while we are away," he explained. "We thank you for being here, Todd," he added.

DePastino, who is not a veteran, explained his calling to be a supporter, saying, "I love being a part of the veteran community. This community is special. The camaraderie is intense, and I am an honorary part of the group."

In addition to live Veterans Breakfast Club meetings, DePastino holds weekly virtual meetings at http://www.veteransbreakfastclub.org, and he produces a free quarterly magazine for veterans called "VBC Magazine."

The Veterans Breakfast Club generally meets at the Bird-in-Hand Family Restaurant and Smorgasbord, 2760 Old Philadelphia Pike, Bird-in-Hand, beginning at 7 a.m. Breakfasts are free for veterans and spouses. To reserve a space, call 717-929-0310.