To honor local veterans, Globe High School hosted a breakfast on Nov. 8. It was open to all military veterans in the area as a way to thank them for their service.

The breakfast was the idea of the principal, Mr. Robert Armenta, who had been wanting to plan a community veteran event for the past couple of years.

He, along with several staff including Major Sal Fiorella, helped plan the event. First responders also were invited and parked the flag truck in front of the school.

Many students had the opportunity to have breakfast with the veterans and listen to their stories. Freshman Emma Baker was excited to meet Army veteran John Yanez (father of one of her teachers) and searched the building to find and take a photo of his senior class picture hanging on the wall to show him.

Lillian Curtis, a GHS senior, said, “I think the veterans’ breakfast was a great way to bring some of the veterans together.” She had the opportunity to sit and hear the stories of some of the honored guests.

GHS senior and JROTC Lieutenant Colonel Marlin Rustin served on the color guard while the Pledge of Allegiance was recited to open the event. He said about the breakfast, “What I felt was very delicate and that it had a uniqueness to it — history coming up to bring up the world’s future, meaning that what they got put through is where we are today with peace and prosperity toward everyone, and passing down knowledge and stories of the past.”

Ken Byrne, Globe resident, gave a thank you speech on behalf of the veterans.

In part, he said, “The meaning of what’s behind what you guys have honored today, we’re experiencing in our hearts…. We just want to thank you.”

Darryl Dalley, mayor of Miami and Army veteran, also was in attendance and mentioned that it would be important to remember Jimmy Lopez, the local marine who was held hostage in Iran for 444 days. He was among 65 Americans taken prisoner. After his release on January 20, 1981 he was welcomed home with a parade in downtown Globe and featured on the cover of TIME magazine.

Much collaboration went into making it a successful event: JROTC cadets were present to greet the veterans, culinary students cooked the food, nearly every student wrote a thank you note to the veterans, the digital communications students interviewed, took pictures and filmed the event, the Young Democrats passed out the thank you notes, math instructor Cindy Grainger created the patriotic table decorations, and GHS FFA, along with several other students, made the welcome banners.

GHS administration and staff hope to host similar events in the future and want to say thank you to everyone who attended and made this a memorable experience for all involved.