For the Wausau Times

WAUSAU — Dick Peterson, a Mosinee resident and Air Force veteran, was honored with the “Pen of Honor” for his military service and his continued support of veterans in the community. The ceremony was held on March 23 at Denny’s in Rothschild during the Veterans Weekly Cup-of-Coffee group meeting.

The Pen of Honor was presented to Peterson by Joe Ramsey, who works as a special education aide at the Mosinee Middle School Pride Center, and Sergeant First Class Cory Dornbrack, a 30-year Army and Army National Guard Veteran.

Peterson served in Southern Turkey for 18 months. His primary job was an aircraft mechanic. In addition, he joined the base scuba club and became the head instructor. He also trained in Under Water Search and Recovery and was elected as Team Captain. His mission was to Improve Turkish American relations.

He has been working with fellow veterans by doing buddy checks on a weekly basis. He also is a Never Forgotten Honor Flight volunteer. He recently learned of a Vietnam Veteran who lost everything in an apartment fire and he quickly found him a house to rent. Dick also helped a friend go through the long process of a kidney transplant. He meets and has made friends with veterans at the Denny’s Cup-of-Coffee” group meetings.

One of Peterson’s biggest accomplishments is the “Veterans Meal Program” an idea that he came up with and is now a major program at the Cup-of-Coffee group. The group now partners with the Wausau American Legion Post 10, the Marathon County Veterans Service Office and the Mar-Lin VFW Post No. 10203. Together they find veterans that are in need and arrange for the Denny’s meal cards to be delivered to them. 

Denny’s provides the cards for customers over 55 years of age. The cards are stamped with every meal purchase and after purchasing five meals the sixth meal is free. The completed cards are donated to the group by veteran members, family, friends, Denny’s customers and local businesses.  Veterans of any age and their family or guest will receive meal cards for a free meal at Denny’s from the 55 plus menu.