WAKEFIELD — Superintendent David DiBarri is pleased to share that Northeast Metro Tech students hosted 20 local veterans for a Thanksgiving-themed meal last month between Veterans Day and Thanksgiving.
On Thursday, Nov. 17, Culinary Arts students hosted 20 veterans at the Breakheart Inn, the school’s on-campus restaurant operated by students.
Culinary Arts students prepared fruit salad as an appetizer, followed by a meal of fresh roasted turkey, and fresh made gravy, stuffing, cranberry sauce, vegetables and mashed potatoes. Pumpkin pie was served for dessert.
The meal has been a longstanding tradition, but due to the Breakheart Inn being closed for much of the COVID-19 pandemic, the tradition was put on pause for several years. This year marks the return of what Culinary Arts Department Head Elizabeth Beals-Henderson describes as one of her favorite traditions.
This year two long-term substitute teachers at Northeast Metro Tech, retired Dean Mark Rooney, a Vietnam veteran, and Jim Clark, a Korea veteran, were among those honored.
“It’s wonderful to have this back,” Beals-Henderson said. “This is one of our highlight events of the year, where we really get to say ‘thank you’ to a group of people who mean a lot to us. We also get to showcase our abilities and say a heartfelt ‘thank you’ to a group we look forward to seeing every year.”