MARION, Ill. (WSIL) -- Some linemen took a break in southern Illinois from restoring power and decided to pay it forward to some veterans in the process.
Ameren Illinois linemen have been hard at work restoring power to tens of thousands of customers across southern Illinois after a major ice storm hit the area on January 5.
According to an Ameren Illinois spokesperson, on January 8, a group of eight veterans met at their favorite hangout place called Riley's Smokehouse in Marion. As the veterans entered the restaurant, they found the place packed with crews taking a break from restoring power in the area.
After crews finished their meals, they started leaving the restaurant. However, before the last Ameren crew decided to leave to return to restoring power to their customers, they approached the table where the veterans were sitting at. The workers then thanked the eight veterans for their service and then left.
When the veterans were going to pay for their meal, a waitress stopped by their table and said the Ameren crew picked up their breakfast tab for all eight veterans.
The veterans at the restaurant were Ken Hilliard, U.S. Air Force retired; Charlie Kemp, U.S. Air Force retired; Debbie Brooks, U.S. Air Force; Art Ambos, U.S. Navy retired; Dan Fruge, U.S. Navy; Gene Broombaugh, U.S. Navy; Herb Robinson, U.S. Marine Corps; and Ron Philips, U.S. Army, and one veteran who remained anonymous.
"We greatly appreciate everything the Ameren Illinois line workers did for us, restoring power in our community, thanking us for our service and buying our breakfast. Hopefully some day we can meet up with them to say thank you very much," one of the veterans stated to the Ameren Illinois official.
