Restaurant says special thank you to Fort Knox soldiers

By Connie Leonard - bio | email

LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) - One week from Thanksgiving, a special dinner was held at one of Louisville's favorite restaurants.  Vincenzo's closed it's doors to the public to make way for some honored guests!

50 Fort Knox combat soldiers leaving for another year long deployment to Afghanistan, were treated to an elegant four-course meal along with their loved ones.

Thursday nights are normally very busy nights for Vincenzo's restaurant with many events going on downtown.  But, they had no problem giving up all that business saying it's a small gift considering what the soldiers are sacrificing.

At Vincenzo's Restaurant an exquisite menu is being prepared for more than 100 VIP guests.

From veal meatballs and shrimp in puff pastry to beef tenderloin, chicken parmesan and Vincenzo's famous tiramisu--- a treat for the taste buds, when made by the talented hands of executive chef and co-owner Agostino Gabriele.

"We thought this would be a nice meal before they go, something like this."

As soldiers started seeing the food come out, their mouths started watering. "I'm excited and I'm ready to down a couple plates of this food, "said 1st Sergeant Matthew Self of the B Blackfoot Troop 64 Calvary.

The leader of 64 Calvary Captain Jerry Wood Junior said they wanted to treat the combat soldiers to a night out with their spouses or girlfriends before leaving on a 2nd, 3rd or 4th year-long deployment back to Afghanistan

"It's the last time that we're going to be able to get together as a family before we deploy," Wood told WAVE 3.

The captain added, this Troop is truly in the line of fire---a fusion of Calvary scouts in charge of finding the bad guys.  "We have infantry guys, the actual 11 series guys and then the 13 Fox, the guys who call for the big guns in a fight, so my troopers are the guys who face the enemy, " he said.

The group approached Vincenzo willing to pay for the four-course meal. But, Wood says Vincenzo Gabriele and his brother had no interest in their money.  "He was like hey, you know what, don't worry about it because we're going to take care of you," Wood told us.

Vincenzo said of the offering, "These people are sacrificing so much of themselves and their families to keep us safe so, it's really a drop in the bucket in relationship to what these men and women do for our country."

These soldiers told us, it's a gift that means much more than they'll ever know.

Sergeant Self told WAVE, " For people to be so appreciative, this is really touching to us, that Vincenzo would go out like this, him and his family to welcome us."

Captain Wood said of the night and the gift, "This is memories." He continued, "This is a time when we're going to be in the mountains of Afghanistan by ourselves, eating cold MRE's, you know, just upset with the world but, this is going to be one of those memories when you look back and go man, you remember that good time we had at Vincenzo's restaurant when our wives dressed up and we all had a good night, this is going to be that motivation to bring us home."

Captain Wood also thanked the restaurant's staff for making this night so special for them.

As a surprise, Vincenzo invited the soldiers back to the restaurant for a welcome home celebration when their latest tour of duty is over.

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