The Kiwanis Club of Cicero honored local veterans with a special breakfast and program last Saturday at the United Family Wesleyan Church in Cicero.
Robert “Bob” Arbuckle, a WWII veteran, visits with members of the Hamilton Heights Key Club at this year’s Veteran’s Day breakfast hosted by the Kiwanis Club of Cicero. At 95, Arbuckle, who resides in Noblesville, still carries an active U.S. Navy service card. (Photo provided)
Members of the Cicero Kiwanis in cooperation with students involved in Hamilton Heights Key, Builders and K-Kids Clubs along with their sponsors also helped throughout the breakfast.
Cicero Kiwanis President Keith Ecker welcomed the group to this special breakfast in honor of our local veterans. Reverend Jody Brown, Pastor of Atlanta Christian Church and veteran of the U.S. Army, led the prayer.
Keith Ecker, Cicero Kiwanis Club President, said the club is proud to provide this annual event to honor veterans and to thank them for their admirable contribution to our country.
“This is a signature event for us as we collaboratively work with the United Family Wesleyan Church and all three of our Service Leadership Programs – Key Club, Builders Club, and K Kids, to host this program,” continued Ecker. “The typical comment we hear from the veterans is about how much they enjoy interacting with the Hamilton Heights students. Students share the same sentiment.”
The guest speaker was Ret. Brigadier General Don Canaday, a WWII veteran and past president of Kiwanis International. Brig. General Canaday, who spent 21 years on active duty with the U.S. Army and four years in the Indiana National Guard Reserve, brought with him stories along with a special flag and the history behind it.
Local veterans were honored at the Kiwanis Club of Cicero ninth annual Veteran’s breakfast on Saturday. The program concluded with TAPS, presented by retired Gunnery Sergeant Brett Mize. (Photo provided)
He explained the flag was hand crafted in Bastone, Belgium by a woman who had lived in occupied Belgium for four years during WWII. She wanted to honor the U.S. soldiers when they arrived and made it in secret. This involved a degree of danger due to the occupying German forces.
Canaday had the pleasure of meeting the woman’s granddaughter, then President of the Bastone Club, when he visited Kiwanis in Belgium. He returned for a visit three years later, and then two years ago, she sent the flag to Canaday as a gift. Canaday, who felt the gift was too important to keep, donated it to the Indianapolis World War II Museum. The showing of this flag at the breakfast was its last public showing before being placed on display at the museum.
Cicero Kiwanis Club is part of the Sycamore South Division of Indiana District of Kiwanis. Its members are volunteers committed to improving the world one child and one community at a time. The Club provides scholarships to graduating High School students, grants for play and educational equipment, supports the local school corporation, local Boy and Girl Scouts, Riley Hospital for Children and much more. The Cicero Kiwanis meet Saturdays at 7:30 a.m. at the Red Bridge Park Community Building in Cicero. Drop in any Saturday to learn more about the club or call President Keith Ecker at 317-420-5542.