Long Island and Area Folks ** Cook for Veterans ** Aug 23

August 23 we are cooking for 750 Gulf War vets as a thank you for their service.

The more hands the merrier.

if youre available that weekend.. let us know.. its our 3rd years and an awesome time.

Serving:
Briskets
Butts
ribs
chicken
burgers/dogs/sausage
sides

Service is from 11-4 on Saturday. We arrive Friday noon and on.... Prep of the big meats friday, cook them overnight and up at the crack of dawn to start the ribs and chicken. Fridge truck is on site also.

Pits: 3 Fast Eddys, 3 lang 84's, 2 Meadow creeks, Mr Dirts Big Tank and 3 Big John Grills. We need hands to help handle all this the hardware and 1500lbs of food, run the food, and help with service.

This was an awesome event each year and gets better as we learn... alot of fun and really rewarding to give back to our service members. Please, come on down to thank our vets, hang out with fellow BBQ Brethren and have a great time.




https://www.facebook.com/events/1482962415269570/

Really looking forward to it this year.. i have cabin fever and withdrawls. With all the stuff going on I havent been able to get out and do much cooking.

maybe this should be a roll call??

Thanks Tim, but unnecessary.. Much being donated in way supplies.. Eric is awesome at that.. anything else we will cover. I always budget $$ from our subscription and ad $$ to help with these type of expenses.

i jUst realiszed that I mis spoke in the first post..Although we were told these were gulf war vets, last year I had the honor to meet many vets from vietname and as far back as Korean war. This is open to ALL Vets, both dormed at the VA and also outpatient.

I just woke my arse up.. What a great time, and totally AWESOME job by everyone.

SCPD/VA gave us full creative control this year and it definitely worked out... One vet came over to me with his buddies and said he was sitting there watching us for a while. He said 'I was watching stuff come out from over there(points at pit area) and then make it s way over there(points to grillls), and then someone comes and brings it there(points to staging tent)where they do some other stuff, and then stuff winds up there(points at service area). .. and he finished with.. 'thats what we call Military Precision'. :tongue:

And it was.. Everyone had a (self imposed) role and alot had multiples and everyone worked like a well oiled machine... NOT ONE PROBLEM.. NOT ONE HITCH..nothin... it was impressive and Im always proud to be associated with you folks.


On a side note, to give some inside info.. This year I requested the SPPD/VA not consider us caterers as they have in the past.... WE ARE NOT... I explained to them we are there as people who have a deep respect and gratitude to our veterans and we are there to do this FOR the vets and not there as paid help. I just felt it important that the vets know we're doing it for them, and not a dollar. It may seem petty, but i felt it important to emphasize the 'they are not forgotten' mentality, and we are not just hired help who would be somewhere else if the pay was better. Thats one of the reason we moved closer to the service areas and the visitors tents. I hoped it would give the vets the incentive to stop in and talk to us, and several did. At the end of the day, I was approached by a vet asking who to thank, and I pointed at our tents and said.. take your pick, everyone is here for you guys.

I got to talking to him... He was a tank commander who was in the tank battles at desert storm. Told me he was in an Abrams up against T72's. Awesome stories, but the most important was that he came to say thank you for all the guys who couldnt come down themselves. He said theres a lot of vets under the tent with him, and he came out for them. Its those things that make this event so special, we do it for the vets.

Additionally..... this year, The SCPD/VA gave me a thank you plaque, and it has my name on it..... AND The BBQ Brethren. Often I get plaques like this, and it comes with a form of survivors guilt(?)... because its not me doing this, its all of the brethren who who give up there day and time with families, those who bring supplies and equipment, and some go as far bringing small things to decorate tables and decorations. This is such a huge team effort that no one person deserves the credit.. and I hope everyone knows how grateful I am personally to have you not only come down to make this happen, but to have you all as friends.. its truly and honor to be part of this team. Thanks to all.