I’m writing because I want to pay tribute to the restaurant owner at Ladera Grill in Morgan Hill, Dan McCranie.
Starting on Veteran’s Day a few years ago, he had offered to all veterans a free lunch—and yes, anything on the menu. I was told that he wanted to give back to all veterans who sacrifice their lives and hardships, and who have struggled physically or mentally or both.
He has gone one step further. He still to this day opens his heart to us veterans, and invites us to continue to come to his restaurant every Tuesday for a free lunch.
Living in Morgan Hill for more than 15 years, my wife and I with many friends have always gone to Ladera for dinner, and from my personal experience, it is one of the top three restaurants in Morgan Hill—if not the best.
Being a Vietnam veteran, I have also gone there for lunch on Tuesdays generally with fellow veteran friends and neighbors—not so much for the free lunch, but to also meet the many veterans from this area who have served in different eras, I believe from WW2, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Afghanistan, Iraq and more recent times.
The several times that I have been at Ladera, I have asked if Dan was there so I could personally thank him for all he’s done for us Veterans, but my understanding is he’s in and out, and I guess I keep missing him.
Personally I think he should be recognized for what he has done for us veterans. I’m assuming he’s a modest man, and maybe doesn’t want to be recognized.
Roger Martarano
Morgan Hill
