Camp Lejeune Restaurant Gets Presidential Visit

Alicia Cruz
Senior writer
theblackurbantimes.com

Seems like Broaster Chicken & Ribs on Western Blvd was the place to be last Friday.

Last Friday was the day that President Barack Obama visited Marine Corp Base Camp Lejeune to give a speech. The president landed at the Marine Corp Air Station Cherry Point Friday morning in Air Force One, then took helicopter Marine One to Camp Lejeune for the speech to Marines aboard the base.

According to White House spokesperson Gannet Tseggai statement to Amanda Hickey of the Jacksonville Daily News, President Obama sampled not only the food at Broaster Chicken, but the President had an aide sent to Smithfield's Chicken and Barbeque on Western Blvd., for food as well.

According to Smithfield's general manager, Ken Davis, on Friday, a woman entered Smithfield's and went to the counter and asked where she could sit five to seven people. After a hearty meal consisting of barbeque, beans and potato salad, she left the restaurant, but not before shaking his hand and passing along a coin that Davis assumed was a tip.

Davis told her that he wasn't allowed to accept tips, but she insisted and left the store. "When she left, I looked to see what she gave me. It was a gold coin that said ‘Presidential Food Service for the White House'," Davis said. His son looked it up online and learned that the coin means that the food went to either the president or his immediate family.

The Presidential Food Service is part of the White House Military Office, according to the White House Web site. Its operational units include the White House Communications Agency, Presidential Airlift Group, White House Medical Unit, Camp David, Marine Helicopter Squadron One, Presidential Food Service, and the White House Transportation Agency. They are "the most visible part of the WHMO's support to the President," the Web site said.

Davis says he plans on putting the coin in a shadow box that he can hang in the store. The aide's visit to Broaster Chicken left employee Bonnie Belaney excited about her encounter with White House staff."We were very excited to know that they were helping the local businesses ... and excited to know that it was for the president because I never would have thought (it would happen). It was a very exciting day," Belaney told Daily News reporter, Amanda Hickey. "It just never would have been a thought in my mind. I would think that they would be at maybe the Officer's club on base or something like that."Each employee received a coin, one of which will be hung in the store.

I couldn't attend the speech as I was still recovering from my bout with pnuemonia, but Iwatched it on television. I have to admit, I was pretty bummed that I didn't get to meet the President or really see him. That is one interview that would have set the trail blazing for theblackurbantimes, please believe me. I never really cared for Broaster or Smithfield's but hey, if it's good enough for our President, it's good enough for moi. I'll stop by there for a quick dinner and let you know how it turns out.