HOPKINSVILLE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – In honor of Veterans Day, the owners of local restaurant Camo Caravan were hired to provide meals to over 100 veteran employees at Walmart Distribution in Hopkinsville.
Jason Coy and Eric Hardin are very familiar with the veteran experience since they have a combined 43 years of active-duty service between them. Their military background fuels them to engage in veteran outreach and came into play when Walmart reached out and asked them to help celebrate veteran employees.
“We love our veteran brothers and sisters because we know all about the pressure, dedication and discipline it takes to be a soldier,” owners Eric and Jason told Christian County Now. “We also think it’s important to be available to help other veterans transition from the military back to civilian life which is a struggle for some.”
Over a two-day period, they provided delicious, made from scratch meals to 135 veterans in four different shifts. These meals included signature menu items like chili dogs, Caravan burger sliders, no cap grilled chicken wraps, macaroni and cheese, and fresh fruit salad. They noted that each person was also given a gift bag from Walmart, and the room they served the meal in was fully decorated.
The duo received a positive and gracious response from employees, adding that they were grateful they could help celebrate the occasion and are thankful for the continued support from the community.
“The best way to show appreciation is to just have a conversation with someone that has served. Listen to their story, share your story and make a human connection,” said the owners. “Those interactions benefit everyone. You never know what someone is going through and just a friendly conversation can make a difference.”
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