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Veterans Day lunch held in Columbia County

A group in Columbia County served up gratitude along with a free lunch to those who served our country.

BERWICK, Pa. — Staff at Commonwealth Hospice in Berwick spent part of their morning preparing lunches for veterans.

"The sacrifices and selfless duty they did for us and our civil liberties and freedoms, this is the best way to give back to them. It shouldn't be just today. It should be every day," said Rene Florek, Executive Director of Commonwealth Hospice of Berwick.

Dennis Cole of Berwick is one of the veterans who came out to the lunch. He tells Newswatch 16 that he served in the Army at the height of the Vietnam War, "Hey, it was my honor when I went into the military, I was asked, 'Why are you doing this?' I said it's my country, I want to serve my country, simply put."

He says Veterans Day events like this go way beyond lunch; it's an act of kindness that wasn't felt when many veterans returned home.

"When I got out of the army from the military back in my hometown, I was not greeted with much warmth. This is a real showing of community support," said Cole.

Rene Florek, Executive Director at Commonwealth Hospice, says that's why staff at the facility want to make sure the veterans of Berwick know how much their service is appreciated.

"When somebody comes back after that, we don't understand what they went through. I have a personal connection in my family, and everyone deserves that because we do not walk in their shoes," said Florek.

The veterans who stopped by also got to spend some time with therapy dogs while they chatted with staff about their time in the service.

"I love to hear their stories and go back in time and go on that journey with them for those few minutes and listen empathetically and give them that love and support they deserve," added Florek.

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