Valley of Valor: Breakfast Club for Veterans

STAUNTON, Va. (WHSV) – Hometown Grill and Buffet in Staunton is known for serving all the classic American breakfast options, but hosts a breakfast club for veterans a couple times a month.

The Breakfast Club is an informal gathering of no-frills men and women who have served our country and now live to tell the stories.

“Different people come at different times, and they just want to be together and talk to each other,” said U.S. Army veteran Jim Ridings. “They don’t want an official program or someone to give them political advice. They just want to enjoy each other’s company.”

While the group of veterans laughed and joked, they also took time to reflect on their time in service in different ways. Some chose to reflect on their time in service and life before and after, while others used the gathering to remember the fallen.

Ultimately, the goal is to build a community of men and women with a shared experience of service.

The Veterans Breakfast Club meets the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month at 9 a.m. at the Hometown Grill and Buffet in Staunton. We invite all veterans and their families to join.

“I love spending time with these guys, and that’s important, I think, for all of us. We can get together and chat and tell old stories because we don’t usually do that in any other environment. We don’t sit around and tell other people about these things, but we open up to each other,” veteran Thomas Thompson said.

The stories of four local veterans are included below.

U.S. Army veteran Charles Darrah remembers jumping into Alaska Territory during the Cold War.

US Navy veteran Don Netschke reflects on life after service.

U.S. Air Force veteran Thomas Thompson remembers his service and the friend he lost in combat.

US Army veteran Del Pardi talks about how his service changed his life.