In Santa Cruz, California on Wednesday night, veterans and their families were treated to the very first Operation Love Our Vets Christmas dinner. According to KSBW, the event's organizers thought of the night as no more than the kind of thank you these men and women deserve in their life after service.
Nearly 300 pounds of piping hot brisket – provided, at least in part, by Freedom Meat Lockers, the Register-Pajaronian reported – were on the menu as veterans and their spouses and children sat down at long tables in Santa Cruz's Veterans Memorial Building.
"We're simply doing what needs to be done. And we have a dual message: To civilians, get up and do something; and to veterans, know you're loved, thank you for your service," Operation Love Our Vets founder Lisa Tkoch told KSBW. "We are just doing what needs to be done. It's a damn shame that it's not done, but we're happy to fill that gap until otherwise."
Great food wasn't the only gift Tkoch's organization extended. Around $16,000 in donations assured that veterans were also presented with warm winter gear, as well as sleeping bags and other small essentials. Not to leave the kids out, Operation Love Our Vets made sure to provide plenty of toys.
All of this generosity didn't go unappreciated.
"The VA has a lot of shortcomings right now," said Army veteran Justin Baker. "They're leaving a lot of holes that need to be filled. The money seems to just disappear and so it's important for the civilians to fight for the veterans like we fight for them."
Wednesday night's dinner gave veterans the chance to reconnect and swap war stories like the good old days. With its success, Operation Love Our Vets is sure to seek a repeat next Christmas.