Tuesday, October 8, 2024
Submitted Photo
By Eliot Javers
Every week, area veterans meet at a Denny’s in Rothschild at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesdays.
Mike Heilmann is the director of this weekly event.
“The goal of the group is to provide information that is of interest to our Veterans and support for each other,” Heilman said. “We also have a Veteran meal program where volunteers deliver meals every Wednesday at noon to local veterans and their families.”
Volunteers have donated more than 1,200 meals to veterans and their families sfor more than three years.
‘According to the group website, “If you know of a Wausau area Veteran that would like to receive meals, please contact Don at 715-573-3208 or dokzkiten@yahoo.com. Leave a name and phone number and Don will contact you with the meal details.”
Heilmann also talked about how the meeting started over a decade ago.
“The group was started on Feb. 8, 2012, when five Veterans met for coffee at Denny’s in Rothschild. I retired from my newspaper marketing career in March of 2012 and stopped in at Denny’s for breakfast. I saw the group of five wearing military caps. I sat with them that day and every Wednesday after and immediately started marketing for the group.”
The group does not have an agenda or bylaws when they meet.
Heilmann touched on what this group means to the veterans who attend.
“The veterans that attend the meeting enjoy the camaraderie and support that they receive,” he said.
“Denny’s offers the group space to display the U.S. flag, the group banner and patriotic photos of its mmbers. Veterans of any age or era are welcome at the meetings. Just grab a chair and say hello,” the website says.
The group that started at five has since grown to more than 700 veterans.
Readers can learn more about the group at mikeheil123.wixsite.com/website.
