Veterans in the Roy community were treated to a breakfast at Roy Elementary School on Thursday, Nov. 9. The breakfast — put on by the city, the school and its PTA, and catered by Masonry Cafe — served more than 60 attendees, which included veterans from all branches of the military and their families.
The event was also made possible by a $500 donation from Timberland Bank.
“The breakfast was amazing. The community really came together, and it’s thanks to Roy Elementary and the PTA,” Roy City Clerk-Treasurer Michael Malek said. “Those entities were wonderful in making this happen. It was a great community gathering to thank our veterans.”
Students created thank you cards, featuring handwritten notes and drawings of veterans in uniforms for veterans, placed at every table at the breakfast.
Following the breakfast, veterans were encouraged to stick around for the school’s Veterans Day assembly, which included an opportunity for students to learn about the military from Sgt. First Class Ryan Lawless and Sgt. First Class Unique McDowell-Edwards, who both spoke in front of the school. They answered student questions about the countries they’ve visited, the vehicles they’ve driven, and the cuisines they’ve enjoyed.
The event served as a final Veterans Day celebration as an active member of the U.S. Air Force for Roy resident Earvin Bundang, who plans to retire in a couple of months after nearly 20 years of service as an emergency medical technician. He attended the event in full uniform, along with his two children who attend Roy Elementary, and said it meant a lot for him and his children to participate in the breakfast and assembly.
“It’s not only honoring the veterans, but it’s also honoring the families because they also made sacrifices,” said Bundang, who grew up in the Philippines and dreamed of serving in the U.S. military as a child. “This community really supports the military. This event is a great appreciation for them.”
