Free meals for veterans provided by local business
Photo by Mandi Bateman Coast Guard Veteran Bill Svec and U.S. Army Veteran Gary Britton enjoy a dinner at Mi Pueblo, provided by Coldwell Banker North Woods Realty, who paid for the first 100 meals for veterans on November 11 at the restaurant.
BONNERS FERRY — On Veterans Day, Nov. 11, from 5-8 p.m., any veteran that walked into Mi Pueblo restaurant received a free meal, courtesy of Coldwell Banker North Woods Realty.
“I thought it was a great idea,” said Mi Pueblo Co-Manager Matthew Solis. “We want to give them lots of thanks for what they did, so the easiest way to do it is to find somebody else to partner up with, you know, and give back to them the best we can.”
The restaurant filled up at right from the start.
“All in all there was a pretty good turnout,” said Coldwell Banker North Woods Realty owner CJ Tuma. “Next year we will plan on doing the same thing.”
The inspiration behind the idea came from Tuma’s own father.
“My father was special forces in Vietnam and walked point his whole tour. He stepped on a land mine, just before he was scheduled to end his tour, losing his right leg and part of his left arm,” Tuma explained.
“I saw the way he suffered growing up,” said Tuma. He raised Tuma and his sister on $425 a month, doing mechanics on the side. His 90 percent disability retirement check was never increased from the 1970s.
Tuma’s father went in once to question it and his pay was cut even further after they reduced his disability, and he was afraid to go back in again. Tuma felt his father may have fallen through the cracks in the system.
“I spoke to a higher-up government official who was the father of a friend of mine,” explained Tuma. “I had a different friend who’s father had lost a thumb in service and received a check for around $3,500 a month.”
Tuma was determined to help his father and convinced him to go back in. This time his father’s pay was increased to $3,200 a month.
“He felt like he hit the lottery,” said Tuma. “That was one of the happiest moments of my life, being able to do that for him.”
Tuma’s father was able to enjoy the increase for several years before succumbing to cancer, but the whole experienced inspired Tuma to give back to the veterans in the community through his business.
“This is a way for us to give back in being thankful for having the opportunities that we have as Americans because of the service and sacrifices of men and women throughout the years protecting our freedoms,” said Tuma.
When asked why they chose Mi Pueblo, Tuma explained, “It is centrally located, have had good service there before in the past, and when you go in as a family of seven, they have always been friendly and fair when dealing with little ones ‘special changes’ to meals.”
The restaurant had a happy buzz that night. Coast Guard veteran Bill Svec enjoyed his complimentary dinner. “I just want to thank them for the meal and the recognition,” he said.