Long Valley Eateries Pay Tribute To Military Lost In Afghanistan

LONG VALLEY, NJ - Restaurateurs Andrea and Steve Bussel feel so strongly about supporting the military and first responders, they’ve followed the wave of restaurants setting up tables in memory of the 13 members of the military killed in Afghanistan on Aug. 26.

The Bussels plan to take it a step further though, Andrea Bussel told Patch on Monday, who owns both OMG Burger & Brew and Long Valley Brew Pub with her husband Steve.

“We will continue the trend to bring awareness and respect to the unnecessary tragedy,” Andrea Bussel said.

Bussel said neither she nor her husband - he originally from Israel - have military members in their families, but she said they are “very patriotic Americans,” who are also in support of local police and first responders.

OMG Burger & Brew, which displays a wooden flag in its loft, first posted its Facebook tribute to the U.S. military members who died in Afghanistan this past Sunday, set with place settings and glasses filled with beer down the middle of their tables, as well as an American Flag set in a bottle on the table.

On Monday, the eatery repeated its tribute, this time with the names of each the fallen, who ranged between the ages of 20 and 31, one of them a U.S. Marine with a baby on the way.

They include: Max Soviak, Kareem Nikoui, David Lee Espinoza, Rylee McCollum, Jared Schmitz, Hunter Lopez, Taylor Hoover, Daegan William-Tyeler Page, Ricky Thompson, Humberto Sanchez, Johanny Rosario, Ryan Knauss and Nicole Gee.

The Brew Pub did a posting as well on Monday in memory of the military members lost.

In addition to hosting a military-friendly atmosphere in their restaurants, Andrea Bussel said she and her husband have offered a longtime discount for veterans and first responders for 10 percent off anytime on their food bill, as long they show their identification.

The couple, who has adopted six rescue dogs, including their patriotic pup “Ricky Martin,” who they have a photo of dressed in his patriotic bandana, prides themselves in having dog-friendly establishments as well. Dogs are welcome to dine with their humans on the patios of their restaurants. Service dogs, such as those who are therapy dogs for members of the military or first responders, are invited indoors, Bussel said.

In addition to OMG Burger & Brew and the Long Valley Brew Pub, the couple owns Bea McNally’s in Hackettstown, which posted the same list of fallen military members, along with 13 glasses of Guinness at a table draped with American flags.

The Bussels also own White Birch Restaurant in Chester and Lakeside Tavern in Budd Lake, Andrea Bussel said.

Washington Township Mayor Matt Murello gave the Bussels a special thanks on Facebook for their tribute.

“Thank you Steve, Andrea and the staff of the OMG Burger & Brew for this tribute to our fallen Heroes In Afghanistan,” Murello wrote.

RELATED: Hackettstown Eatery Pays Tribute To Military Lost In Afghanistan

Questions or comments about this story? Have a news tip? Contact me at: jennifer.miller@patch.com.