CONWAY, Ark. – Every veteran should have the opportunity to share his or her story, but it’s not always easy for them to talk about their experiences. One bakery owner in Conway understands that and is offering a safe space and a unique outlet to be heard.
Most mornings start with a simple conversation over a cup of coffee, but for Vietnam veteran Mike Mason, they fuel the soul more than any cup of joe ever could.
“I wake up I get up and I get ready and come up here,” Mason said.
It’s become part of his everyday routine. Monday through Saturday, you can find him huddled around a corner table at Julie’s Sweet Shoppe in Conway.
“I mean if she’d open on Sundays I’d probably be here before church for coffee,” Mason laughed.
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For veterans like himself, it’s a safe space with others who understand.
“(You) just kind of make friends right off the bat because we all have a military connection,” Mason said.