Veterans honored at Ramona Senior Center lunch

by Regina Elling

About 80 seniors took part in a Ramona Senior Center lunch to honor local veterans.

As part of the Nov. 10 event, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3783 organization handed out Buddy Poppies, while the Ramona High School’s Navy Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps cadets performed the presentation of the flags and the seniors sang the National Anthem.

Leslie Delaney, activities coordinator for the Center, at 434 Aqua Lane, said about 20 veterans took part in the meal. Karen Welch, VFW Post 3783 commander, spoke individually to each of the diners at the event.

The Ramona High School NJROTC was present as part of a lunch honoring local veterans, held at the Ramona Senior Center on Nov. 10. (Leslie Delaney)

Archie’s Pantry, a free thrift store in Ramona, also set up a one-day pop up for the event, where seniors could shop for food items they might need, such as canned goods and staples.

As the flags were walked through, many of the seniors spontaneously burst into song, Delaney said. And many of the NJROTC students enjoyed listening to the stories the veterans told them about their experiences, she said.