Two local veterans were celebrated at last week's Veterans Coffee Talk. Every Tuesday morning in the community center off S. Main St. the veterans in Auxvasse and the surrounding communities gather for a coffee, comradery and perhaps most importantly, breakfast. 

Many of the veterans who come served in the Vietnam War and sometimes, just need the opportunity to be with people who can relate. Barred from employment, shunned from family and treated as a pariah by the public, many Vietnam veterans felt like outsiders when they came home.

“Now, we have people like Eldora, that have reached out and got us all together,” says Jim Adams. “We all sit here and it’s like family.”

Eldora Lowry is the coordinator of Veterans Coffee Talks. She works hard with a handful of her fellow volunteers to secure donations, coordinate breakfast and all around create a safe space for our veterans. The community center has been rented for this special event every Tuesday for 2024 by Chris Gilman. 

These coffee talks are nothing new but last week was particularly special for two veterans.

After everyone had settled in with their coffee, joined in the morning prayer and recited the Pledge of Allegiance, Missouri state representative Kent Haden made his way to the center of the room.

Last spring, the House of Representatives recognized one veteran from each district for their outstanding patriotism and citizenship through their service with an award.

“When you have a room full of veterans it’s very hard to pick just one veteran and this is really symbolic for all of you,” says Haden.

Representative Haden presented his long-time friend Robert Gentry, an Army Sergeant in the Vietnam War with the certificate. Gentry and Haden used to “run cattle” together back when they were neighbors. A couple months ago, Gentry was supposed to receive this award at the Capitol, but could not make it due to a roofing accident.

“It’s a privilege, Bob and thank you for your service… and thank Donna for putting up with you,” jokes Haden.

The celebration was far from over following the award ceremony because Tuesday was also Robert Kimble’s 83rd birthday. 

Kimble, is a Vietnam War Veteran who served in the Marine Corps for over 20 years. He was a member of the 1st Recon Battalion and fought in the Battle of Khe Sanh. In his career, Kimble had 15 parachute jumps, 11 of which were combat jumps.

“That ground comes up fast. It looks like it’s coming up to meet you,” remembers Kimble 

After his time in the Marines, he asked to be released in California so he could spend time on the coast, but city life was just too much and Kimble found his way to Missouri where he now lives with his wife of 42 years, Alice.

He had no idea there was a special birthday celebration complete with a custom cake, which Lowry and his wife Alice coordinated, waiting for him.

After Haden’s speech, the group sang happy birthday, welcomed some new veterans and began lining up for breakfast which was biscuits and gravy provided by the Auxvasse Christian Church.

“Biscuits and gravy was a staple meal for the military,” says Kimble. “Brings back memories.”

Having a space like this where our veterans feel comfortable can really open up about their lives during their military service is more important than it ever was thanks to people in our community like Lowry who keep it in the front of our minds.

*** Correction to Central Missouri Honor Flight 69 Comes Home from 9/24/24. Honor Flight 69 had 94 Veterans, two of which were Koreran War Veterans.