LOUISVILLE, Ky. — On the eve of Veterans Day, U.S. Representative John Yarmuth presided over his 15th and final breakfast event with Black veterans.
In a room filled with heroes, Rep. John Yarmuth said ‘thank you’ one last time in this annual tradition. “We, again, owe you so much,” Yarmuth told a crowd filled with Black veterans. “Breakfast with Black Veterans,” traditionally happens during Black History Month, but come February, Yarmuth will no longer be a congressman. However, the eve of Veterans Day is more than appropriate for a breakfast with African American veterans. “I don’t think Black veterans get singled out enough because they fought, many of them, fought when they weren’t even allowed to serve with white soldiers,” Yarmuth told reporters.
On Thursday, the congressman was joined by Louisville’s outgoing mayor Greg Fischer and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear. “Let me tell you, he has invested in me. He has been a great mentor but an incredible friend,” Gov. Beshear said. Also at the head table with Yarmuth was Korean War veteran Marine Corporal Thomas Cork Sr. and like Rep. Yarmuth, Cork has attended this event each and every year.
“We certainly appreciate him doing this all those many years and one of the things I’ll say about him, he never forgets your name…I’m very proud of the fact that he’s here today, and I say goodbye to him,” Cork Sr. told Spectrum News 1.
Goodbye because Yarmuth is retiring from Congress. Yarmuth’s successor Morgan McGarvey was also in attendance Thursday and pleased to announce he’ll take over hosting duties next year. “Sometimes the cliches are true. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, so I am here today to learn and announce the good news that we’re not even going to renumber it. We will have the 16th annual Black Veterans Breakfast.”
And on behalf of all veterans, Corporal Cork Sr. has this simple request of us on Veterans Day. “All we ask of anybody is to just say thank you for your service,” Cork Sr. said.