Special to Iredell Free News

The Union Grove Ruritan Club honored area veterans at its Veterans Day Dinner at the Community Building in Union Grove on Friday. Veterans of all the armed services and their families were invited to attend a dinner prepared by Union Grove Ruritan Club members, including Hawaiian chicken, mashed potatoes, seasoned green beans, cole slaw, and blackberry, peach and apple cobbler.

Despite the residual effect of Hurricane Nicole which caused widespread rain showers, more than 40 individuals braved the elements to attend the event. Aside from the dinner, the event offered abundant fellowship and recognition of each member’s service.

Newly sworn-in Iredell County Commissioner Brad Stroud presided over the roll call of service branches and recognized each veteran in attendance, giving them an opportunity to speak of their years of service.

The Union Grove Ruritan Club is a non-profit organization. The club is a chapter of the Ruitan National, which along with other groups spread among 900 communities in the United States, seeks to promote fellowship, Goodwill and Community Service. Union Grove Ruritan Club projects have provided scholarships to area high school students, promoted civic pride and offered community service to the Union Grove community, and has sponsored a number of civic events, including the 2022 Union Grove Spring Fling, a Fourth of July Breakfast, and this most recent tribute to veterans.

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