Assemblyman Danielsen Hosts Second Annual Breakfast For Veterans
Continuing a tradition he started last year, state Assemblyman Joe Danielsen once again hosted a Breakfast for Veterans on Nov. 10.
The event is held to commemorate Veteran’s Day, and is held at the Stage House Tavern on Amwell Road. As it did last year, Stage House supplied the breakfast buffet, which included scrambled eggs, bacon and sausage, potatoes, pancakes and French toast and beverages.
Danielsen, D-17, doesn’t limit attendance to veterans; he’s also opened up the breakfast to police officers, a handful of which showed up.
“I am a veteran like millions of others, and not a day goes by that I am not appreciative of all those who served our country in many different capacities,” he said. “Throughout the country we celebrate Veteran’s Day, I want to take my part and show a more personal appreciation by welcoming not only veterans, but anyone who wants to come here to celebrate veterans, to sit down, enjoy a meal, tell stories and reflect upon our country and what the country provides us.”
Addressing the several dozen people who attended, Danielsen said that he hosts the breakfasts as a way to “take an opportunity to thank this country for what it’s given me and my family.”
“You’re not just an ordinary person,” he told the veterans in the room, “you are of the highest level of citizenry in our country, a United States veteran.”
Danielsen, an Army veteran, said serving in the military is a tradition in his family.
“Every man in my family for over 100 years joined the Army, and I’m proud to say three of my nephews and two of my nieces also joined the Army,” he said. “We grew up not with a sense of giving back, I was 17 and joined in high school, we grew up with a sense of obligation and I’m very proud to have served the way I did,” he said. “I, like many of you veterans, wrote a blank check to this country.”
Danielsen also presented Stag House owner Eric Hambrecht and banquet manager Danielle Hagenz with a certificate of appreciation from the state Assembly.
“Eric and Danielle have been generous through the years at hosting this, at all cost to them,” Danielsen said. “We look forward to this being hosted here every year, and it’s getting bigger and better.”
Hambrecht said he sponsors events such as the veterans’ breakfast “just to show our appreciation to the veterans for everything they do. We wouldn’t have this restaurant without what they do for us.”
“We like to show how much we appreciate it, and we always try to give back to the community, and this is a great way to do it,” he said.