Conway, Arkansas – Although it’s not always easy for veterans to talk about their experiences, they should all have the chance to share their stories. Conway’s bakery owner recognizes this and is providing a secure environment and a distinctive platform for voice.
For Vietnam veteran Mike Mason, they provide more soul-stirring energy than any cup of coffee, even though most mornings begin with a straightforward chat over coffee.
Mason remarked, “I wake up, get ready, and come up here.”
He now incorporates it into his daily schedule. He can be found gathered around a corner table at Julie’s Sweet Shoppe in Conway, Monday through Saturday.
Mason chuckled, “I mean, if she’d be open on Sundays, I’d probably be here for coffee before church.”
It’s a secure place with people who understand for veterans like him.
“We all have a military connection, so you just kind of make friends right off the bat,” Mason remarked.
Julie Goodnight, the owner, has prioritized veterans ever since she launched in 2013.
According to Julie Goodnight, “the majority of my clients were WWII veterans who kept a lot of their stories to themselves. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned to appreciate and we just don’t know what they’ve been through.”
She honors those who served our nation with a unique ceremony every year on Veterans Day. But the corner meeting has developed into something more than she could have ever dreamed throughout the years.
They simply should be allowed to speak freely about their experiences, you know? And they all get it; they all understand one another,” Goodnight added.
Every story you share has significance for people both past and present, regardless of the branch you served or the conflict you fought in.
Army National Guardsman Jake Briley stated, “It’s important to get together, hear these stories, and share their stories, even though a lot of young guys and older people don’t want to talk about it like me.”
But some stories are difficult to relate, so Goodnight thought it would be better to write them down.
Conway Copies is a print firm owned by Greg Lamb. He immediately agreed when Goodnight approached him about twenty years ago with the notion of writing a book that would tell the memories of the veterans.
“We decided to print and donate the books every year at that point because my father is a veteran,” Lamb added.
The written testimonies of almost 200 veterans in Faulkner County, either by the veterans or their families, are included in each volume.
Lamb stated, “I believe we have Korean Veterans and WWII Veterans up to the Gulf War and even beyond that at this point.”
A little of history and a tale that might not have been told otherwise are brought to life with every page turn. According to Goodnight, it’s an opportunity to remember those who have passed on and to thank every man and woman for their sacrifice for our nation.
You’re unaware of how much they’ve endured. You view them differently, but they don’t ask for respect,” Goodnight remarked.
Mason refers to it as the beginning of a lengthy healing process.
Mason stated, “We want to share it with everyone, but people don’t understand why we do keep it inside.” “I think that helps a lot, too, and it’s a good feeling to know that maybe we do make a difference to other people.”
Every year at Julie’s Veterans Day celebration, new copies of the books are printed and distributed. Five to ten veterans are added each year, enabling the book to continue expanding.
