Many volunteers came out to give back to those that gave to all of us.
The Veterans One Stop hosted more than 800 veterans, acting service men and women and their families just to say thank you for all they have done.
And some of Central Texas News Now personalities joined in to volunteer at the Veterans One Stop on Friday. We all helped serve meals and clean up throughout the event.
Beautiful, heartwarming and family were just some of the words that were used to describe the Thanksgiving feast at the Veterans One Stop.
This event couldn't have happened without the organizations and volunteers that donated time and food. Like David Steely, an army veteran himself, chose to volunteer instead. He was a combat medic for 22 years and says helping is second nature.
"It's a habit," Steeley said. "It's something I really enjoy doing and you know I'll probably take care of veterans till my last days."
And days like this one is not only about giving back but letting our service men and women have a chance to talk about the good and the bad during their service.
"And it really gives us a chance to come together and speak a common language and relive some of the things that we've done and the things that we've seen," Steeley says.
Adolph Kurtz is one veteran that came out today. He dropped out of high school as a junior to serve in the Air Force. He says he's here for the ones that couldn't be.
"When you go into service you give up everything," Kurtz said. "You never know whether you're going to come home or not. So it's a great thing for me to participate out here."
John Garcia served in the Marines at 18-years-old in 1970. Once he left the service, he continued to help veterans like himself working in the VA hospital.
"I felt that we should help and I did try and do as much as I could with my job," Garcia said. "Helping veterans with psychiatric problems."
People like Garcia and the ones who work at the VA and Veterans One Stop have helped many like Charles Johnson, who suffered a stroke in 2015.
"Without them, I don't know where I'd be right now," Johnson said. "And as you can see I'm standing up on my own, I'm walking on my own, I don't have to walk on a cane any more."
At the end of the day, to Steeley, it's about seeing the smile on the veterans' faces.
"You know I got all the reward out of this just by seeing the happy faces of the veterans that I'm helping take care of," Steeley said.
For more information about the Veteran's One Stop in Waco, visit their website.
Copyright 2018 KXXV. All rights reserved.
