The Philadelphia Protestant Home last Friday honored some 65 veterans residing in its community.
The annual luncheon took place in the social room a day before Veterans Day.
Among the guest speakers were U.S. Marine Reserve Lt. Col. Will McElwaine and state Rep. Anthony Bellmon. McElwaine noted the event took place on Nov. 10, the 248th birthday of the Marine Corps.
Also on hand were officials of the 2nd Police District – Capt. Marc Metellus, community relations officer Mark Mroz and victims assistance officer Danielle Walsh.
PPH resident Phil DeHennis, a veteran of the Korean War, led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance. Another PPH veteran, Audrey Alston, sang the national anthem and God Bless America. Pastor Pete Ahn, the chaplain, delivered the invocation and grace before the meal.
Three veterans are 100 or older: Phil Grutzmacher (104), John Lugrine (101) and Kenneth Strobel (101).
Serving lunch were St. Cecilia eighth-graders Grace Bowdren, Brady Power, Tom Stackhouse, Caitlyn Ryan, Abigail White and Juliet McGough and seventh-graders Jules Kimenour, Ansleigh Lapacinski and Presley Porretta. Teachers Kelly Roney and Kathy McDonough accompanied the students.
Grace read an essay on veterans, and Brady and Tom read about POW/MIA remembrance and the table set for one.
The students, who came to PPH on their day off, gave each veteran a piece of an American flag and thank-you notes, with any extra notes taken to Crescenz VFW Post 2819.
Bill Conaway, PPH’s director of community relations, thanked staff and dining services for decorating the tables and making the meals, which included salad and apple pie. ••
