Hundreds gather to thank veterans at special luncheon

Second World War veteran Gabriel Fekete was one of the 90 veterans, spouses and widows thanked in Brantford Saturday at the annual Thank-a-Vet luncheon.

“It’s really good,” said Fekete before the luncheon, enjoying meeting other veterans and families.

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Fekete, 101 years old, served in Belgium, then Holland, with the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry during the Second World War.

“I was in quite a few cities. Then Germany, after, and from Germany back to Holland.”

Several people approached Fekete to thank him. “I’m from Holland,” one said. “I’m here because of you,” said another. “I’m from Belgium, I was born during the Second World War.”

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During training, Fekete remembers being a waiter in England. He was then given a batman (officer’s assistant) post, serving 10-15 officers in Aldershot, southwest of London.

“I could serve five at a time,” he smiled.

Fekete, who grew up in Brant County, later owned a tobacco farm in the Norwich area from 1961-2017. When the farm was sold he moved to Woodstock.

Brantford’s Thank-a-Vet luncheon, now in its 26th^th year, originally started as a thank you to Canadian veterans on the anniversary of the liberation of Holland. It has expanded over the years to thank all Canadian veterans, past and present, from Six Nations of the Grand River, Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, Brant County and Brantford.

The Thank-a-Vet committee consists of individual volunteers and members of the 56^th Field Artillery Regiment.

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About 90 veterans and spouses were expected at Assumption College School Saturday, and about 300 people in total.

“The average age of WWII veterans is about 96,” said Luncheon co-chair Dave Levac. “The sad part of this whole thing, it will fade, but our committee has discussed trying to figure out how to engage the new veterans. We’re thinking about a dinner-dance or something else.”

On Saturday, the color party was piped to the stage where local dignitaries brought greetings, everyone sang O Canada and God Save the King, and luncheon followed.

“Some of the veterans have tables they need to sit at because they’ve been doing it for 26 years,” said Levac. “Some have been here every year, others came after their buddies called them saying, ‘You’ve got to see this thing.’

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“Some veterans won’t come, however, because they think they are not worthy, because they didn’t go overseas. They are so humble they don’t consider themselves a veteran… and we never make the distinction. You sign up, you’re a veteran.”

Some veterans do not want to remember war experiences, he said, not wanting to burden other people. Others want to swap stories.

“I had a guy tell me, about five years ago, it was the first time he told anyone,” said Levac. “There is nothing good in war, and these guys talk about that. So when you think about that, and the rest of it that they’re carrying, it gets me every time I talk about it.”

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