Local veterans were honored with a breakfast on Nov. 8, 2018, at Morningside of Sumter as Veterans Day is almost here.
Sumter County Veterans Affairs Director Valerie Brunson said the inaugural event came about as Morningside of Sumter is her department’s “community partner of the year.”
“We’re pretty excited about it,” she said as a roomful of veterans and several family members enjoyed a hearty breakfast.
“This is simply our way of saying ‘Thank you,’” said Heather Frieberg, community relations director for the assisted living facility off Wilson Hall Road.
She said it was “humbling and an honor” to serve a breakfast courtesy of Morningside to Sumter County veterans.
On hand were Sumter County Council Chairman James T. McCain Jr. and fellow Councilman Eugene Baten.
Baten, a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, offered brief remarks, thanking the veterans and their families for serving our country.
Brunson said she is also appreciative of Eggs Up Grill on East Wesmark Boulevard, which has offered to donate 15 percent of their sales on Veterans Day to the Sumter County Veterans Association. Lisa Williams of Eggs Up Grill also said they will give away five $20 gift cards as a way of thanking local veterans for their service.
Brunson wants to remind everyone that the Veterans Day parade will get underway at 10 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 12 at the corner of East Bartlette and South Main streets in front of Central Carolina Technical College’s Health Sciences building. There will be 95 units in the parade, she said, and more than 30 vendors will be set up on Law Range next to the Sumter County Courthouse.
The parade will pass in front of the Courthouse before turning right onto East Calhoun Street. The Veterans Day ceremony and program will begin at 11 a.m. in front of the Sumter County Courthouse and will feature keynote speaker Col. Derek O’Malley, 20th Fighter Wing Commander at Shaw Air Force Base.
The offices of the City of Sumter and Sumter County Government will be closed on Monday, Nov. 12 in observance of Veterans Day.