With Veterans Day, Nov. 11, rapidly approaching, the Champaign Family YMCA’s preschool students, teachers and staff are looking forward to a new event to honor area veterans. On Thursday, Nov. 10, YMCA volunteers will serve a free pancake and sausage brunch to veterans 10 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Y’s lobby.

“We know that several area businesses recognize veterans on Veterans Day, so the Y’s preschool teachers thought it would be fun to honor veterans with an extra celebration a day early,” stated Sonya Stonerock, the Y’s Child Care Services director. “After all, you can never fully repay the area veterans for the sacrifices they’ve made to protect our country and the freedom that we hold dear. This event is an open invitation to our veterans, as well as to the families of our veterans who’ve passed away, to come and help us honor their service to the USA a day before Veterans Day.”

YMCA senior volunteers will assist with serving the food and beverages, while Y preschool students perform patriotic songs and lead the Pledge of Allegiance during the brunch. The Y’s staff and children created an Honor Tree decorated with photos, flags and patriotic ribbons. Area residents can lend photos of relatives and friends who served the country and have the Y staff put them on the Honor Tree. Photos will be handled with care and returned after the Nov. 10 celebration.

For additional information, call the Y at 937-653-9622 or stop by the Y’s lobby, 191 Community Drive in Urbana.

Y member and veteran Warren Vanscoy stands next to the Honor Tree with Y preschoolers Genevieve Lamb, Braedy Fox and Brady Funderburgh. He served in the U.S. Air Force 1942-45 and fought in WW2. He was a 3-stripe sergeant for the Air Force’s 66 AAF Base Unit and Weather Observer 784. He received the American Theater Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, European-African-Middle East Theater Ribbon and World War 2 Victory Medal.

https://www.urbanacitizen.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/36/2016/11/web1_IMG_3946.jpgY member and veteran Warren Vanscoy stands next to the Honor Tree with Y preschoolers Genevieve Lamb, Braedy Fox and Brady Funderburgh. He served in the U.S. Air Force 1942-45 and fought in WW2. He was a 3-stripe sergeant for the Air Force’s 66 AAF Base Unit and Weather Observer 784. He received the American Theater Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, European-African-Middle East Theater Ribbon and World War 2 Victory Medal. Submitted photo