For a group of local veterans, breakfast is the most important meal of the day.

Sure, the nutrition is important. But the real sustainability comes from fellowship, shared experiences and compassion.

The group goes by the name of Lancaster County Veterans Breakfast Club (LCVBC). While it's sort of a cross between a self-help outreach program and a support group, it's also a reminder that United States veterans have always come up with ways to get the job done.

"There's a camaraderie with all of us," said LCVBC founder Bill Terry. "There is a bond. We are all brothers and sisters. It's honoring those who have gone before us. There's an understanding that we gave to the defense of our country. It's what all of us have in common. It might have been a higher calling because it's not for everyone."

LCVBC meets on the third Saturday of every month. Over the past five years, the breakfast club had met at a restaurant in Bird-in-Hand before a fire temporarily shut down the restaurant.

In the upcoming months, LCVBC has scheduled meetings at 6:45 a.m. on April 20, May 18 and June 15 all at the former Revere Tavern, 3063 Lincoln Highway East, Paradise. Many of the breakfasts are paid for by sponsors, including local businesses.

"It didn't start out with a mission," said Terry, a resident of East Hempfield Township and a Vietnam War-era Navy veteran. "It was just a way to get vets together. It was a time to have breakfast with other veterans. Then some gentlemen began stepping up and paying for the breakfast. Now we have a jar and pass it around and collect funds for veterans' groups. We're still giving back to the community, even though some of us have already put our lives on the line."

A typical LCVBC gathering could include the Pledge of Allegiance, a prayer, the relaying of jokes and a guest speaker.

"There seems to be a lack of understanding toward what veterans have done," said Terry. "If you were not in battle, it's much easier to get acclimated back into civilian life. If you were in battle, it is hard."

Anywhere from 100 to 130 local veterans show up for the breakfasts. Most hail from the Vietnam War era, but the group also includes veterans of World War II, Korean War, the war in Afghanistan and other military conflicts.

"The interaction that goes on there is great," said Terry. "There is an element of support to it."

According to the United States Department of Defense, less than 1% of the country's total population is currently serving in the military, and only about 10% of the total population are veterans. Nearly 17 veterans commit suicide each day, according to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.

"Vets wear hats so we can identify each other," said Terry. "It's not for the civilians. It's so we know who served. I'll look for the hats when I'm handing out business cards for the breakfast club. The breakfast club is a way to come out and be with like-minded people. For some, it's a way to continue to serve the community."

Veterans are encouraged to make reservations for the breakfast by calling Mary at 717-929-0310.