Around 200 veterans and supporters gathered for the 12^th annual Welcome Home Luncheon to honor vets and say, “thank you for your service.” The event was held at the Eustis Community Center and organized by the Lake Federated Republican Women’s Club. 

LFRWC member Louise “Lou” Brown was there to welcome the guests and offer some background. 

“Twelve years ago, retired US Marine Judge Larry Metz was serving as Lake County’s State Representative and recognized how horribly many veterans were treated in the 60s and 70s when they returned from service in Viet Nam,” Lou says. “So together with the Lake Federated Republican Women’s Club, he helped start this tradition.” 

That initial luncheon inspired veterans and members of both Republican and Democrat organizations to hold the 2013 Main Street parade in Tavares, with floats carrying veterans. 

Today’s event had around 20 sponsors including The American Legion Auxiliary-Unit 35, Lifepointe Church, Royal Harbor Republican Party, Timothy Partners, LTD and many private sponsors as well. Oakwood Smokehouse & Grill, Eustis, provided the lunch. 

Loretta Garretson, President of LFRWC, opened the luncheon by welcoming everyone, after which Kathy Crocco gave the invocation. The Eustis HS Color Guard was there for the National Anthem sung by Andy Dubois. 

Navy vet Kathryn Wilgus of Ashley’s House gave a moving speech about female vets to start the program. 

“Women have been serving in the military since the Revolutionary War standing alongside men,” Kathryn says. “It wasn’t until January 2013 that the ban on women in combat was officially lifted as if were a new phenomenon.” She goes on to say that women soldiers have been in the ranks against all odds despite cultural norms because “valor knows no gender.” 

Kathryn, who served in Afghanistan, also mentioned that there is an underlying frustration many female veterans feel when they wear hats or gear reflective of their service. “I can’t tell you how many times people ask me where I got my hat or if it is my husbands,” she says. “If she is wearing a combat hat, she served.”

Lake County Property Appraiser and veteran Carey Baker also spoke to the group followed by Staff Sergeant Dorothy Kistler (ret.) who enlisted the Air Force right after the Viet Nam war when things were starting to change for women. She had a long career as a professional in the military and recalled being honorably discharged.

“When I retired, like all other vets I went to the V.A. to see about my benefits and they asked me where my husband was,” she says. She proudly told them that she was the vet and realized that it would take time but eventually their service would be recognized alongside the men. 

“My sisters and I proved that women can faithfully and expertly earn a full career in the military with honor and with dignity.”