First Presbyterian Church — Russellville, Kentucky
Once a month, First Presbyterian Church invites veterans of all service eras – whether they served in wartime or peacetime – and their spouses or caregivers to join us for friendship, fellowship and a home-cooked meal. In 2016, Pastor Tom Thompson and Shayna O’Kelley started the First Presbyterian Veterans Group as a way for the church to show appreciation to our veterans by providing them with a welcoming space to spend time together with people who understand — and good food too!
The program began with three veterans, but it has now grown to more than 60 veterans and spouses each month. We invite a representative from a veterans’ service organization (such as Honor Flight and Operation Song) to join us and present their services to the group after the meal. We have also had several veterans share their personal experiences with the group. Our veterans have become a treasured family and we look forward to serving them every month.
— Shayna O’Kelley, office manager and director of First Presbyterian Veterans Group
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