Local restaurant continues two-decade tradition of free meals on Veterans Day

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — For dozens, if not hundreds, of veterans, the holidays came early as they not only enjoyed a free meal, but a Thanksgiving dinner with all the fixings at a local restaurant.

It’s a tradition that’s been around for more than 20 years at El Patron. But while it might look the same, each one is special in its own unique way.

“If you look around, a lot of the veterans sit next to each other. They swap stories, they share things. The families share stories, and so you know, it becomes just something very special,” El Patron co-owner Nadine Martinez Daskalos said.

Martinez Daskalos and her husband, Jimmy Daskalos, own El Patron, which has been providing veterans, service members and law enforcement with a free meal every Veterans Day for more than two decades.

“We understand what their commitment is and what their sacrifice is,” said Martinez Daskalos. “My father is a veteran, a Vietnam veteran, and my nephew is actually serving right now in the Middle East.”

The meal isn’t the restaurant’s traditional New Mexican and Mexican cuisine. Martinez Daskalos said they spread holiday cheer early, serving a Thanksgiving meal to show their thanks.

Veterans like Sandy and Kenneth Long appreciate that recognition.

“We look forward to that every year,” said Sandy Long, an Air Force veteran.

Veteran Alex Archuleta, who served in the Marine Corps during the Korean War, said he comes every year for the nice company and good food.

“We’ve been coming here every year. Every year, [Jimmy Daskalos is] wonderful. Wonderful. They’ve done a great, great job,” Archuleta and his wife Ruby Archuleta said.

The Longs said they met when they served in a local Air Force transportation squadron at Kirtland Air Force Base in the 80s.

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“I just think of the service we gave to our country and all the people who have given more than their lives for our country, and that we still have brothers and sisters out there in harm’s way out there doing their thing to serve our country too,” Kenneth Long said. “So to see these people really appreciate what military people have done and all the veterans is really a great thing.”

Veterans KOB 4 spoke to said the national holiday also reminds them of their fellow service members who didn’t make it back.

“We can’t ever let them forget what that was all about and the commitments they made. It’s how else can you not thank them? You know what I mean?” Kenneth Long said. “We wouldn’t be here sitting here talking to you if it wasn’t because of them.”

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“Freedom. That’s what I understand we were fighting for, the freedom of the United States,” Archuleta said.

Martinez Daskalos said they’re planning on keeping the event going because they understand that sacrifice. It’s something she hopes to show younger generations like her daughter, who wasn’t even born yet when the tradition started.

“It’s so cool that we get to help out veterans, and like my grandpa’s a veteran, so him always coming and getting his turkey dinner. It’s always like he looks forward to it every year to come do,” said Thalia Daskalos.

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