Saturday morning, Dec. 5, the We Can Be Heroes Foundation hosted a Pearl Harbor Day Breakfast With Our Heroes at the Queen’s Harbour Yacht & Country Club.
The banquet hall was filled with decorated war heroes and their family members, all gathered together to commemorate and highlight the sacrifices war veterans have made for our country.
The morning began with a group of young Marines from the Atlantic Coast Young Marines volunteer group performing a colors march, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and a quick group prayer.
Seats were assigned by group to a specific table. Each table was labelled with the name of a veteran, donated by their loved ones as a way to honor them.
After breakfast was served Beth Heath, president of the We Can Be Heroes Foundation, gave a meaningful speech on the importance of the foundation and how it relies on donations from the public in order to continue honoring veterans and assist them in ways they need.
“These unsung heroes need recognition,” said Heath, speaking not only about the day’s event, but also about their upcoming Unsung Heroes Gala.
At the back of the banquet hall was a silent auction, where multiple baskets filled with items donated by the public were being auctioned off to the highest bidder.
“[The money] goes straight towards providing food to homeless veterans and sponsoring re-employment programs,” said Heath.
Students from the Ponte Vedra High School’s Sharks For Heroes club also volunteered their time at the breakfast, helping guests check in and find their tables.
Mason Romero, a student at PVHS, read an article about the Pearl Harbor Day Breakfast in last year’s Ponte Vedra Recorder and was inspired to organize a club at his school that connects students with the heroes that serve our country.
This year’s newly elected president, Charles Davidson, stood beside Beth Heath as she explained the heartwarming creation story and all of the volunteer work PVHS Sharks For Heroes members have been able to accomplish since.
The morning rounded out with a presentation from Captain Ryan Shoaf and an opportunity for guests to go around the room to meet some of the veterans in attendance. One of whom was 102-year-old veteran Sollie Mitchell, who served in the office of General Douglas MacArthur in the Philippines during World War II.
To nominate a hero in your life, or to learn more about the important work happening at the We Can Be Heroes Foundation, go to www.wecanbeheroesfoundation.org.
