Youth dressed in military attire, crafted by longtime area volunteer Helen Grutkoski, take center staageduring the 7th annual Honoring Veterans Supper on November 2 at St. Isidore's Church in Sturgeon Lake. The group presented a narrative about past and present conflicts, from the Revolutionary War to the war in Afghanistan. Abe Mach, of Sturgeon Lake, portrays Thomas Jefferson as he recites the Declaration of Independence. Over one hundred veterans and their families feasted on a roast beef dinner prior to the program, courtesy of the Council for Catholic Women and the American Legion Post 361. "We're proud of the fact that they served," said Grutkoski.

It started during the elections of 2002. “There was so much campaigning that year,” said Helen Grutkoski, longtime area volunteer who heads the annual Honor Veterans Supper in Sturgeon Lake. She had heard comments that war veterans return home decorated but often continue life with few occasions that honor their time in service to their country. This absence of recognition, especially at a time when people exercise the right to vote, moved Grutkoski to think, “What if someone honored veterans the day before elections?”

“And so it began,” said Grutkoski, retired occupational therapist and active community volunteer, whose husband, now deceased, was a veteran of the Korean War. Monday, November 2, marked year seven of the nonsectarian dinner held at St. Isidore’s Church hall in Sturgeon Lake. It has grown steadily from the first dinner in 2003 when 137 people from throughout the area were fed free of charge. This year over 175 people flocked to the hall for a program that included roast beef dinner, patriotic music, and storytelling that honored the heroes of wars gone by.

While the program content varies each year, a mainstay to the event are the military costumes worn by students that depict the conflicts from the Revolutionary War to the War in Afghanistan. The costumes are the designs and workmanship of Grutkoski, who crafted the attire about ten years ago on request from Willow River School music director Kevin Williams. At the time, Williams was preparing a marching band music production for Memorial Day, and he asked Grutkoski to provide about 30 costumes.

Since then the costumes have been worn by children during each Memorial Day service in Willow River, and on request at various functions in the area, including the annual veterans dinner. The number of costumes has grown over the years, “as needed,” to include size changes and the depiction of additional wars, explained Grutkoski. There are about 45 costumes to date.

Williams plays an integral part in the annual dinner, as well. He motivates and directs high school band and choir students in providing patriotic music for the program.

While free will donations are accepted, the event is sponsored by the St. Isidore’s Council of Catholic Women, who prepares the feast, and the American Legion Post 361, which supplies the financial support for the program. “(The legion) is so happy that we do this,” said Grutkoski. She notes that any profit taken from the event is donated to charitable organizations within the community.

Grutkoski lauds the volunteers who contribute to the event. “I can dream and plan all I want, but without the kitchen help and parish support, it wouldn’t happen,” she says. “It takes one person to get it going but a whole lot of interested people to support it.”

She plans to continue the annual event “as long as we can, and as long as people are interested.” Grutkoski is sincere in her belief that every war has been about protecting people’s freedom. “Our men fought for the right to vote,” she said. “We’re proud of the fact that they served.” Having the program during elections “reminds us that we’re free.”