MARYVILLE, Tenn. — A military chaplain helped launch a weekly gathering for military veterans at the Vienna Coffee Company in Maryville.
“The Lord was guiding me that I should start this,” said Vern Gardai, a veteran.
He served 28 years as an Army chaplain and launched the regular meeting almost two years ago. It started with a handful of “founding fathers,” and they are now up to 35 regulars with a membership list topping 100 people.
“There’s no turf wars. If you are a Marine, if you are Air Force, Navy — we all support each other here,” said Carlos Reyes, a Marine veteran.
“They just find ways to help — living life, talking to neighbors, talking to their friends," said Steve Hall, a veteran of the Air Force.
The Air Force veteran shared a story about how he was going to talk to a veteran group at a long-term care home and wanted to make sure he had a fresh batch of coffee. Within minutes of sharing his mission with the group, they collected around $70 to pay the bill for a special java blend.
It is symbolic of the service-above-self ideals ingrained in veterans, who all signed a declaration committing their lives in service to their country.
“You know every veteran has a story, but as veterans let’s not get caught up in our own stories. Let's not live there. We have to take all those things that we have learned and apply it to life, and, 'How can we apply it to life, and our fellow citizens, and our friends, and our fellow veterans today?” said Hall.
That’s exactly how this group operates. There is no hierarchy and no favorites. It is a chance to swap stories, develop new friendships and find ways to help the greater community. The invitation is out to the more than 10,000 veterans who call Blount County home to join in the meeting.
This is the universal declaration to them and veterans across East Tennessee: "Everybody is welcome."