They drove through the fog on Thursday morning and gathered in the school library, some young, many senior citizens, but all of them veterans.

First, they sipped cups of coffee, and the room rumbled with conversation. Later plates, with scrambled eggs, sausage patties, fruit and biscuits are gravy were dished, and the veterans gathered around the round tables again, now conversation interrupted with forkfuls of breakfast.

Pete Loman, in a blue shirt and a black leather jacket, said he’s been attending the Montesano Junior/Senior High School Veterans Day Breakfast since it first started.

“It’s very appreciative of us. It gives us the opportunity to meet the school kids,” Loman said. “I enjoy it and I look forward to it every year.”

Loman has lived in Montesano since 1947 (his family moved to Montesano when Loman was in third grade). He married his high school sweetheart in 1958, and that same year he was drafted into the US Army.

“My friends and neighbors all thought I should serve my country,” he says affably. “I figured I might as well make the best of it, and I served my time to the best of my ability.”

By the time Loman was drafted, the Korean War had ended, but he still was sent to Korea where he spent 13 months working as a driver and courier.

Following his time in the Army (he had attained the rank of Specialist Fourth Class), Loman worked in the grocery business for 43 years, retiring from Thriftway in 1999. He has three sons and a daughter, all of whom live nearby.

Arne Hall, in an yellow collared T-shirt, also looked back fondly on his time in the US Air Force, 1951-55, ultimately attaining the rank of Staff Sargeant. The morning, with a thick fog in the air, reminded Hall of his time spent stationed in England for 2.5 years.

“On the way here, I looked over and said, ‘They remembered I was stationed in England with all this foggy weather,’” Hall said.

Hall had been to many breakfasts at the school, and he isn’t planning to stop anytime soon.

“The kids really knock themselves out. They do a fantastic job,” Hall said. “I’m going to keep coming until I’m not here anymore.”

Like Loman — like many veterans — Hall’s account of his time in the service is positive. He says he has been to several base reunions, meeting up most recently in North Carolina with all of his other fellow servicemen who were stationed in England.

“I could recognize some of my buddies from when we were all 18 to 24 years old,” Hall said. “Now we’re all old farts.”

MHS English and leadership teacher Anne Ekerson said the 40-50 veterans who attended the breakfast was a “pretty good turn out.”

“I see some new faces this year, and a lot of old faces,” Ekerson said. “In the long run, this breakfast gives veterans a time to mingle, and it allows the students a chance to get to know the veterans.”

The meal was cooked by 15 students. Following breakfast was a Veterans Day assembly at the school’s gym. In total, 40 students combined their efforts to cook breakfast and organize the assembly.

Ben Royer, a freshman, was working to gather profile note cards for each veteran. The cards would be read to introduce each veteran during the assembly, and as each veteran was introduced, students would give them a rose.

“I think it makes the veterans feel happy to be here,” Royer said. “We put on a good show, and I think they appreciate it. I’m excited to do what I can and to do my part for the veterans.”