Mike Ratterman grew up in Kansas City as the son of a police officer. He recalls how he would help feed the homeless at Christmas as part of an initiative put on by the police department.
Decades later, the Crossville resident is back in the Christmas serving line. Instead of helping out as a member of the Boy Scouts, as he did in Kansas City, the retired police officer and veteran is talking turkey, both literally and figuratively, by starting an event inspired by his boyhood experience.
Ratterman, commander of American Legion Post 163, is heading up the No Veteran Left Alone on Christmas buffet style meal Thursday, Dec. 25, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Post 163, located at 1446 S. Main St. The event will feature a free meal and Christmas movies and music.
“No one should be alone on Christmas,” said Ratterman, noting his goal is to serve 100 people. “I believe it’s something that needs to be done. I remember how grateful people were to get a meal they wouldn’t have had when I helped out serving the homeless at Christmas in Kansas City. The meal was secondary to not being home alone.”
Charles Loveday is the historian for Post 163. He and his wife will be among the volunteers at the Christmas event for veterans.
“It shows the veteran community they have someone to support them,” said Loveday, who assisted the Cumberland County Veterans Assistance Council for a number of years. “There are over 6,000 veterans in Cumberland County. We just thought there are some veterans who have no place to go on Christmas and would like something to eat. It’s a good gesture that shows other people we have an organization like the American Legion that does something good for the community and veterans.”
Ratterman has received some donations but is paying for most of the food and advertising out of his own pocket. The menu features ham, stuffing, green beans, rolls and lots of turkey.
“I was at Walmart and noticed turkey breasts were 17 cents a pound,” Ratterman said. “I went back five times to buy turkey breasts.”
To promote the event, Ratterman has placed posters and flyers around town and is getting publicity through various local media outlets. Assisting Ratterman on Christmas Day will be 30 volunteers.
“I used to do catering on the side,” said Ratterman, noting the event isn’t limited to veterans but is open to homeless individuals. “I can do it with my eyes closed. It’s a passion. I hope to make it an annual event.”
Jerry Brownstead, a member of Post 163 and former department chaplain, was part of the discussion to start a Christmas event for homeless veterans. Noting the high veteran suicide rate throughout the year and especially from Thanksgiving through the New Year, he remains committed to improving the lives of a segment of the population that he said is often overlooked by the government and continues to fight battles.
As he went and visited veterans’ homes and hospitals and hospice homes around the state of Tennessee, Brownstead said he could see the need for doing something like this. All he needed was some fellow veterans to believe in this mission.
“I was blessed to have a commander and first vice commander that believed in serving our less fortunate veterans,” Brownstead said. “Post 163 has the honor of being the very first post to implement the No Veteran Left Alone for Christmas. Hopefully we can get so much support within our community that we can start doing this across the entire American Legion family throughout the nation. Sometimes just spending your time with folks is all that is needed – knowing that others care.”
John Vanella is the chaplain for Post 163 and along with his wife a Christmas meal volunteer. The Army veteran and Crossville resident said he’s surprised the Legion hasn’t done it before.
“It’s spreading Christmas cheer and making connections with veterans on Christmas Day,” Vanella said. “That’s what you’re supposed to do. It builds that human connection, and with that God’s connection to us. He gave his love to us and said share it around.”
For further information, call Ratterman at 859-743-0164.