Craig Hall, The Business Times

On Nov. 6, Bray and Company Real Estate hosted its 3rd Annual Veterans Breakfast at the Moose Lodge in Grand Junction and drew numerous veterans from across the Grand Valley and Western Colorado.

According to Bray CEO Robert Bray, “We had about 170 veterans sign up, but as of this morning, we’re going to have over 200,” as Bray served coffee and greeted veterans, their families and other attendees.

As the program commenced, the Grand Valley Combined Color Guard presented the American Flag along with Colors from all branches of its Armed Services. Attendees were welcomed by current Bray President and Lieutenant Colonel (U. S. Army, Ret.) Jimmy Kleager, and an invocation was given by Bray and Company’s Brian Donaldson. The National Anthem was performed by Darby Savoca, the daughter of Bray Realtor Dan Savoca.

Featured speakers included Alex Maitre, Bray Realtor and Deputy Director of the National Disabled Veteran’s Winter Sports Clinic, a Grand Junction-based nonprofit service group that provides winter sports opportunities to disabled veterans from across all 50 states.

Each year since 1987, the clinic has hosted disabled veterans at its “Miracles on the Mountainside,” providing them participation in skiing, scuba diving, rock wall climbing and other adaptive activities and training. The annual event has grown from 90 participants in its first year to now hosting over 400 veterans and has been celebrated at various ski resorts in Colorado, including Powderhorn, Crested Butte and now Snowmass.

For more information go to wintersportsclinic.org.

The keynote speaker was Sergeant Major (Ret.) Harvey “Jim” Henderson, who regaled the crowd with stories about his service in the United States Army and his career in the Department of Corrections.

But the true message from Henderson was between the laughs, where he came back to his skillset from his Army training, which began with “active listening” as the first step to addressing problems and opportunities and was paramount in his most important duty in his military and service careers: “Always take care of the troops.”

A presentation followed with highlighting the significance of the Fallen Comrade Table, the folding of the American Flag and passing out of Challenge Coins to all veterans in attendance.

The event was sponsored by Bray and Company, Snooks Bottom Barbecue, Buildworks Group and The Business Times.