Sutton celebrates 5th Veterans Day dinner

SUTTON — It was a full house on the Nov. 11 as the Alpine Inn hosted the fifth annual Veterans Day dinner in Sutton.

Colony High School Army Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps color guard, directed by LTC Gerald ‘Butch’ Diotte, started the program with an impressive performance ending with the Star Spangled Banner. Roberta Mason read “Freedom is not Free,” written by a JROTC member, followed by a moment of silence to remember those veterans who did not come home and Taps.

Then attendees celebrated the vets who made it home and introduced those in attendance. The oldest veteran was 97-year-old Paul Johnson from Sutton who served in World War II.

The rest of the evening was spent sharing dinner and conversation with Veterans and friends. It ended with a pie auction to raise money for restoring the local community hall.

Funding for the dinner came from Usibelli Coal Co. Inc., represented by Lorali Simon, and Sutton Community Council Revenue Sharing. The food was prepared and served by Alpine Civic Club Board.