Homeless Veteran’s Day is officially a Memorial Day tradition in Seattle at the Bread of Life Mission. For the second year in a row, the Mission honored our homeless veterans with a special ceremony and a free BBQ for all of our homeless guests.  The City of Seattle issued a proclamation again for 2010, officially recognizing May 31st as “Homeless Veterans’ Day.”

This year brought more people to the Mission.  The line started early, and the feeling of respect on the streets for our veterans brought warmth to the cold, rainy morning.

The ceremony was held inside, with the chapel filled to standing room only and people seated in the lobby and hallways.  Lt Col Garrett, a highly decorated colonel retired from the U.S. Air Force, gave the keynote address, and one of the Mission’s Life Change Program Residents sang the National Anthem after the color guard presented the flags.

Our homeless guests came from all over Seattle to participate and join us for the BBQ.  Within two short hours, we fed over 1000 people–a meal of steaks, chicken, hamburgers and hot dogs. The only thing moving faster than the food was our amazing team of volunteers who worked tirelessly from the set-up of the event through the clean up.

The City of Seattle offered amazing support, and the Mission would like to thank the Special Events Committee, the Mayor’s Office, and the Seattle Fire Department for all that they did to help make this important event possible.