The local chapter of the AFL-CIO is holding its fourth annual Veterans Breakfast this Saturday.

The event, put on by the Warren-Forest Central Labor Council, will be held from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Youngsville Volunteer Fire Department.

The purpose of the breakfast is simple.

“To honor the veterans,” Rich Barrett, president of the council said.

“We started them in 2018 and did one in 2018 and 2019 the COVID hit,” he said. “We stopped them during COVID. We didn’t want to endanger elderly veterans to come out in the public during the rampage.”

But as we enter what seems to be a post-COVID world, Barrett said “we just suddenly decided to start it all back up.”

According to Council, 7.8% of the population nationwide has served in the military. The percentages in Warren — 12.1% — and Forest — 9.8% — far exceed that average.

“We have always been proud of the members of our community and their patriotic spirit,” the Council said in a flyer for the event. “We ask you to join us as we serve those who served us.”

Barrett said 115 attended the 2018 breakfast while 85 participated in 2019.

The breakfast is open to veterans and and immediate family. Those looking to attend are asked to RSVP to (814) 730-7558 or email barrett54@verizon.net.

LOCAL EVENTS

Veterans Day has roots back to the cease fire of World War I in 1918, but it is a modern-day celebration of those who serve our country.

“It’s for the living, to bestow the honors of what they did for us,” Warren County Veterans Affairs Director Delores Stec said. “They had to leave their families, their homes, their lives. And they fought to protect our country, to maintain our way of life.”

Veterans Day events will be held throughout Warren County – mostly at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month – 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 11, this year – in remembrance of the time when the cease fire went into effect.

There will be events at Soldiers and Sailors Park in Warren hosted by the Disabled American Veterans, at Youngsville American Legion Post No. 658 and the Tidioute VFW Post No. 8803 at 11 a.m. Friday.

Sheffield Area Middle High School will also host a program starting at 1:45 p.m.