NEWS FROM THE HUT by John Hamilton

About a month ago, I wrote an article titled, “Shootout at Bucks Eats and Treats”, where I tried to draw a parallel between “The Gunfight at the OK Corral” and a group of veterans who met Wednesday mornings at Bucks Eats and Treats for coffee and breakfast. This small group of veterans tried desperately to solve the problems of the world while enjoying a hot cup of coffee and a little breakfast. This Wednesday morning Shootout started out with Jimmy Himes (Army) and Don Rainwater (Air Force) after putting out or picking up the flags on Main Street for one of the 14 yearly flag days. Then they decided to meet at Bucks Eats and Treats on Wednesday since the flag deployment only happened once or maybe twice a month if at all. Slowly, other Post 142 members joined the “shootout” for breakfast. Other Hominy citizens started joining the group or were already enjoying Bucks Eats and Treats every morning. Everyone had many stories to share about their military and life experiences. They all had something to share and learn from each other.

Everyone was falling into an enjoyable routine on Wednesday mornings until Hominy schools went on spring break and they posted a sign in the window that Bucks Eats and Treats would be closed that week. The following Wednesday, March 24^th I showed up at Bucks Eats and Treats around 7:30 AM for coffee and a delicious, epicurean delight breakfast burrito and found Bucks Eats and Treats closed, dark, and empty. I was totally disappointed, and my taste buds were also because they were all set for that breakfast burrito with sausage, eggs, onions, and mushrooms, and anything else they might find to throw in it. I called Jimmy Himes and he said that he had already been there and had read the sign in the window that they were going to be closed indefinitely. All the guys from Post 142 were extremely disappointed as I am sure many of the Hominy residents who frequented Bucks Eats and Treats were disappointed.

Fortunately, just about that time, the Post 142 members voted to resume the long established Monday morning breakfast at the Hut. Everyone really enjoys it when Jimmy Himes brings biscuits and gravy and scrambled eggs and bacon. Dennis Kidder and Don Rainwater give Jimmy a break on alternate Mondays and bring donuts and pigs in a blanket.

Last Tuesday, after picking up the flags on Main Street for the Vietnam Veterans Day celebration, I asked Don Rainwater to talk to Jimmy Himes about where we might be able to continue our Wednesday morning “Shootout”. That evening I received a phone call from Don Rainwater that he checked with the lady at Daylight Donuts to see if it would be okay for the guys to meet there on Wednesday mornings and she said absolutely. One advantage of meeting at Daylight Donuts is they have coffee, donuts, pigs in a blanket, and to my surprise and delight, breakfast burritos.

Our first “Shootout” at Daylight Donuts was this last Wednesday morning and those who showed up were Jimmy Himes, Don Rainwater, Jack Cross, John Hamilton, Jerry Jackson, and Dennis Kidder. The “Shootout” will be every Wednesday morning at Daylight Donuts around 7:30 until each person decides they have better things to do, if that is even remotely possible.

I would like to send out an open invitation to all veterans, in and around Hominy, Cleveland, and the surrounding vicinities to join the Legionnaires at Post 142 for our Wednesday morning “Shootout” at Daylight Donuts, our Monday morning breakfast or Koffee Klatch at the Hut, and our monthly meeting on the third Thursday of the month at the Hut located at 118 S Wood Street in Hominy, OK. If you would like to meet some of the veterans from Post142 in a more informal setting, you can stop by at one of our gatherings.

Until further notice, our regular Legion meeting will be the third Thursday of each month. Due to current weather issues, our next meeting will be on Thursday, April 15^th at 7:00 PM. The Sons of the American Legion meetings have been suspended until further notice, depending on the future COVID-19 situation. All dinners have been cancelled until further notice. The Monday morning Koffee Klatch meetings have been resumed at 8:00 AM. If you are a veteran, come by for our monthly meeting, and/or the Monday morning Koffee Klatch meetings. Several of the Post 142 members meet on Wednesday’s at Daylight Donuts for coffee and breakfast treat around 8:00 AM. If you have a good story, it may end up in print. Also keep up with us at the Post 142 website “americanlegion142.org” and Hominy Legion on Facebook.