Muddy Rudder treats veterans, soldiers to meals
honor

Muddy Rudder treats veterans, soldiers to meals


By Nok-Noi Ricker
BDN Staff
BANGOR DAILY NEWS PHOTOS BY BRIDGET BROWN
Keith Dow (left) of Hampden shares a photo of him and his wife, Barbara, taken during the time of his Navy service in World War II, at the Muddy Rudder in Brewer on Wednesday. Dow and friends Frank Ring of Orrington and Keith Gove (not pictured) of Hampden each brought photographs of themselves from the era of their service to share with one another over lunch. Buy Photo
BREWER, Maine — Some military veterans went into the Muddy Rudder restaurant on Veterans Day carrying pictures of themselves in uniform or with stories of their experiences, and left with full bellies but no bills for the meal.

To honor their service to this country, the Brewer restaurant, its sister location in Yarmouth and a cafe in Freeport, served free meals to any United States veteran and active military personnel.

“In the neighborhood of 700” meals were given away at the Brewer restaurant alone, Tom Workman, Muddy Rudder general manager, said Wednesday. “We knew we were going to be very busy.”

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What was slightly unexpected was the emotion and gratitude from the veterans.

“The veterans really appreciated it,” Workman said. “A lot of the veterans, from the Vietnam era especially, were very thankful. They’re kind of like the forgotten veterans.”

Many of the veterans brought pictures from “their time in service and shared stories with staff,” he said. Restaurant owner Peter Anastos was the father of the idea, Workman said.

The Muddy Rudder restaurants were given a congressional honor Tuesday for their efforts, Brewer City Council member Gail Kelly announced at the board’s meeting that evening.

Kelly is the state director for U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe.

“It’s an honor for Sen. Snowe, as the ranking member of the [U.S. Senate] Small Business Committee, to be able to recognize small businesses in Maine for the good work they do,” Kelly said Wednesday. “It just went into the congressional record yesterday. It’s a very special honor and they will forever be in the record of Congress for their good deeds.”

Kelly was so excited about the congressional honor that she printed off a copy on her home computer and hand-delivered that copy Tuesday.

“I just wanted them to know,” she said.

An official copy will be presented to the restaurants once they are printed.

After slinging food all day, his staff is tired but feel rewarded for a job well done, Workman said.

“It’s been a great day,” he said.

nricker@bangordailynews.net

990-8190

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Comments
12 comments on this item

The muddy rudder has received its reward.

....in the eyes of men.

Thank you to the staff who probably had to work for next to nothing . They should get the award !

I wish to thank the Muddy Rudder and every other restaurant who participated in the meals for Veterans...simply awesome. It is wonderful to have the members and past members of our armed forces be both recognized and respected as they most assuredly deserve. I had 5 brothers and each served his country proudly. I was a young adult in the Vietnam era and I well remember how they were treated when they arrived back to their country...simply heartbreaking. I thank each and every person who served our wonderful country and helped to protect my safety and my rights. God Bless each of you.

My father said he had heard that Applebee's was doing something similar. He said that he would feel guilty taking money from them when they were a corporation and didn't owe him any of their hard earned money. I think he was trying to be funny.

Thank You Muddy Rudder. Veterans were nicely treated and a few photos were taken of happy customers.

I participated in Muddy Rudder's free meals to veterans- it was simply heartbreaking and heart warming. Watching strangers walking amongst strangers and thanking for their service (among other veterans). The crew of Muddy Rudder deserve more than an award- they deserve a free meal themselves. I think it would have been awesome to have done a survey perhaps of what branch they were in, what war they served in (if any), and how long in the military they were in, and perhaps where from Maine they come from. Just a little bit of statistical fun. Thank you Muddy Rudder!!! The scallops were simply delicious!

Thanks, Muddy Rudder

Dear "seriouslynow",

Having a bad day? There's always someone who sees the glass half empty rather than half full. The Muddy Rudder ought to be commended (and was). There's nothing wrong with advertizing. How else would they have been able to give away 700 meals? By the way, 700 meals is a big dent to the profit margin. This was a selfless act by a fine establishment and should be recognized as such. The veterans (and I'm one) appreciated it.

Thank you, Muddy Rudder!

I wish to thank the staff at the rudder whom worked very hard on Veterans Day. My dad is retired militery and being a veteran myself I was proud to be a part of Veterans Day.

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