MARYSVILLE — After the success of last year’s “Take a Vet to Lunch” in Arlington, event organizer and Vietnam veteran Bob Rawe is looking to turn the non-profit meal, for veterans from all branches of service, into a quarterly get-together, starting in Marysville this month.
The Marysville Masonic Temple, at 419 Columbia Ave., will be hosting “Take a Vet to Lunch” Feb. 28 from 4-8 p.m. Rawe explained that the event’s capacity is 160 attendees, of which he hopes to see a fairly even 50-50 split between veterans and non-veterans. He elaborated that inactive and active-duty military members both qualify as “veterans” for the purposes of the meal, and all veterans who attend with spouses or significant others will be admitted for free.
To make this event possible, Rawe is requiring non-veterans to pay a meal fee, and is asking members of the community for donations of both money and raffle prizes. He also needs one “table host” for each table, to furnish their respective tables with dinnerware, cups, glasses and flatware for all the table’s diners, as well as any other items they might want to include, to promote their businesses “while at the same time honoring our veterans.”
“This is a great time for civilians and non-veterans to share a great meal with the veterans, and for the veterans to share their experiences with everyone else,” Rawe said. “We’re proud to honor all the men and women, in all branches of the military, who have put their lives on the line for our freedom. It’s a big check they write, when they sign up to serve our country.”
The meal will consist of pulled barbecue pork sandwiches, green salad, coleslaw, pudding, homemade cookies, and a choice of coffee, tea, and water. For more information, call 360-657-7204, or e-mail either sheila@bluenestingeagles.com, bobsoutback@verizon.net or pmckay04@comcast.net.