No Veteran Should Ever Eat Alone -by Brad Hoopes
"No Veteran Should Ever Eat Alone." That was the philosophy of Virgil Horton and the foundation for the Pamvets Breakfast.
Virgil and Ron Garretson, both WWII veterans, met for coffee at the west Loveland McDonald’s in 2008. Whenever they saw a veteran sitting alone, they invited them over to come sit with them. What started with just two veterans has blossomed into a weekly gathering of 150–200+ at the Golden Corral every Saturday.
The beauty of the Pamvets (Proud American Military Veteran) Breakfast is its informal structure—no elected officials, no rules, and no fees (just the cost of breakfast). You come and go as you please, with the mission being to simply enjoy camaraderie with fellow veterans over breakfast.
My perspective on the breakfast comes from a different angle—almost like that of a fly on the wall if you will. I’ve never served myself, but having been involved in honoring our veterans for many years, I’ve been fortunate to be welcomed into their community. It’s hard to describe the joy of simply sitting back and watching new friendships form, or witnessing the spark and excitement when shared service experiences and common connections come to light. Perhaps most enjoyable of all is hearing the laughter that ripples through the room. More often than not, the conversations push the Bravo Sierra meter well into the red zone—but that’s half the fun.
Doors open at 815 a.m. Jane, a fiesty WWII nurse, rings the bell to start the gathering once everyone is in, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance, a prayer, announcements, and introductions of first-time visitors. On the 1st and 3rd Saturdays, Veterans Honoring Veterans conducts a statue ceremony. Then, it’s off to the chow line.
The Golden Corral is located at 1360 Sculptor Dr., Loveland, which is right to the east of Lowes off Eisenhower (Hwy 34). The all-you-can-eat breakfast is $13&tax, plus a tip for the wonderful servers Sarah and Sue. See you there!
Brad Hoopes has a passionate project, Remember and Honor,in which he interviews and preserves the life stories of veterans. Click here to view some of the stories www.youtube.com/@rememberandhonorstories
