By Donn Nemchick
The Veterans Breakfast Club is proud to congratulate our youngest VBC member, Henry Schoepke, on his graduation from high school in Wisconsin.
Many VBC members have watched Henry grow up over the years through our online programs. He has been a familiar face on Zoom, participated in a VBC Scuttlebutt episode on challenge coins, and become a friend to veterans and military families across the country. This fall, Henry will begin the next chapter of his journey at the University of Minnesota.
Henry may be young, but he has already built an extraordinary connection with America’s veterans. His passion for collecting autographs, letters, photographs, and personal memorabilia from veterans and other notable figures has led him to correspond with thousands of people, including Medal of Honor recipients and service members from every era of American military history. More important than the collection itself are the relationships Henry has formed and the respect he has shown to those who served.
Many VBC members will remember Henry from his appearances in our programs and from the inspiring story of his outreach to veterans. You can learn more about Henry in these features:
“Fitchburg Teen Connects with Hundreds of WWII Veterans” (WMTV 15 News)
Henry’s generosity extends beyond collecting stories. Recently, VBC member Donn Nemchick received a beautiful patriotic quilt handmade by Henry’s grandmother, Jan Stuebinger, of Wisconsin. Todd DePastino presented the quilt to Donn during the opening of the Veterans Breakfast Club Welcome Center in East Liberty. The quilt is a remarkable piece of folk art and a lasting symbol of the kindness and friendship that Henry and his family have shown to the VBC community.
As Henry heads off to college, we thank him for the enthusiasm, curiosity, and respect he has brought to our community. He reminds us that preserving veterans’ stories is not only about honoring the past—it is also about inspiring the next generation.
Congratulations, Henry. We wish you every success at the University of Minnesota and look forward to seeing where your journey takes you next.
