VETERAN … Guest speaker Harold Stickley of Wauseon addresses attendees during the Fulton County Senior Center’s annual Veterans Breakfast. Stickley, a U.S. Air Force veteran, served as a B-52 mechanic while stationed in South Dakota.
PHOTOS BY JACOB KESSLER / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
COMPANY … Nearly 200 veterans, spouses, and local seniors filled the Fulton County Senior Center for Friday’s Veterans Breakfast, a long-standing tradition honoring those who served.
By: Jacob Kessler
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jacob@thevillagereporter.com
The Fulton County Senior Center hosted its annual Veterans Breakfast on Friday morning, welcoming nearly 200 veterans, their spouses, and other area seniors to enjoy a warm meal and fellowship ahead of Veterans Day.
The event, going on for over 11 years now, serves as a heartfelt tribute to those who served in the Armed Forces.
This year’s program featured guest speaker Harold Stickley of Wauseon, who served in the U.S. Air Force as a B-52 mechanic. Following his address, the Senior Center Choir closed the morning with several patriotic selections.
Adding a special touch to the program, 34 students from Wauseon Middle School’s Junior National Honor Society joined the event to assist.
The students, accompanied by two teachers, greeted attendees, poured coffee and juice, served breakfast plates directly to each senior, and helped clean up afterward. Their participation brought an intergenerational spirit to the day’s celebration.
The breakfast menu featured a hearty spread prepared by the center’s kitchen staff, including cheese omelets, sausage links, hash brown patties, fresh bananas, and homemade cinnamon roll, along with juice and coffee.
Activity Coordinator Vicki Hoylman said the breakfast began around 2014 and has grown steadily over the years. “It’s something our seniors and veterans really look forward to,” she explained.
“We have a slideshow each year featuring photos of veterans and their spouses, both past and present, and we continue to add to it annually. It’s a special way to honor those who are still with us and remember those who are not.”
This year marked the second Veterans Breakfast to be held in the new senior center building, which opened in June of 2024. Hoylman said the updated facility has been an ideal space for bringing the community together under one roof.
“We’re just so grateful for their service,” Hoylman shared. “It’s wonderful to be able to give them something to look forward to and a reason to get out and be with friends.
“We try to offer that every day here, through lunches, exercise classes, games, and programs that keep people active and connected.”
The Fulton County Senior Center continues to serve local seniors each weekday with lunch and 11 a.m. programming, offering a variety of social, educational, and fitness opportunities throughout the year.