ELLSWORTH — Everyone knows it takes a village to raise a child, but what does it take to bring off a Thanksgiving dinner for 120 senior citizens and veterans?
On the supply side, we’re talking turkey: 125 pounds of turkey. Plus 155 pounds of potatoes, 100 pounds of butternut squash, 60 pounds of peas and 6 gallons of gravy.
On the service end are the culinary arts students at the Hancock County Technical Center who whipped up the dinner and side dishes under the guidance of instructor William Baker. Warming up, dishing up and serving up were local Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, Coast Guard personnel, VFW and American Legion volunteers, auxiliary members and two Mormon missionaries, one from Utah, the other from Missouri, who were recruited to help out.
Hosting the event were the members of Ellsworth VFW Post 109. Post Commander Harvey Stradley, along with several post officers and members, were in the thick of it Saturday at the post at 419 Main St. as dinner guests streamed in for the free dinner.
Past Commander Daniel Sullivan, serving as emcee, called Mary Abbott up to lead the gathering in the national anthem. This was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance, a ceremony honoring armed forces personnel missing in action or held as prisoners of war and grace.
It didn’t quite take a village to pull it off but, in the end the chefs, hosts and servers had created one.
Stephen Fay
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