Bill Higgins a Korean War Veteran had never attended Stonington’s before Tuesday, but even before he tasted the lunch he was planning on coming back next year.
“I can come every year, right,” Higgins asked.
The answer is of course yes. The Pawcatuck Lions Club and held the Annual Veteran’s Luncheon Tuesday at the . Those in attendance estimated the luncheon is in its 14th year. And every year the lunch changes a little bit.
Stonington High School teacher Patrick McCarney said each year he leaves the entire lunch up to the students in his AP U.S. History class.
“The students do everything the flyers, advertisements, the flower centerpieces and this year they wanted to do appetizers too,” McCarney said.
With the help of members of the Pawcatuck Lions Club the 34 students in McCarney’s class put together a two-hour lunch that included music, a slide show, Town of Stonington Proclamation and more.
It’s an event that both the students and the community look forward to each year.
Stonington High School student Kat Chambers was well aware of the responsibility of the luncheon when she signed up for the history class.
“It’s something out of the normal school routine,” Chambers said. “It’s for such a great cause."
Current and retired members of the armed forces and their families were invited to attend the free luncheon. The event began at more than a decade ago.
Then Pawcatuck Middle School teacher Paulla Solar began the event as a way to expose her students to veterans after one of them asked what’s a veteran.
When she moved to the high school she brought the even with her where it evolved into the lunch it is today.
McCarney estimated that for the past few years they have had about 150 people come to the
