(This is the first in a series of three stories highlighting area veterans in honor of Veterans Day.)
Rally Point Grille celebrates veterans every day it’s open – not just on Veterans Day.
Tiffany and Kelly O’Neal, who are both military veterans, started Rally Point Grille 2½ years ago. They wanted a place where those who serve in the military and others could gather with their families.
“Rally Point is like Cheers; only, it’s where everybody knows your rank,” said Tiffany O’Neal, referencing the famous sitcom bar where everyone knows your name.
The restaurant’s décor reflects the military theme with flags from the different military branches, plaques and photographs to celebrate military families, not just their own military careers.
“We did not want to make this place a museum of me,” said Kelly O’Neal.
Their focus has been on others, and because of that, people have developed their own attachments to them and the restaurant. Among them are a guardsman and full-time fireman at the Savannah River Site, who gave Kelly O’Neal his unit patch upon his recent deployment.
“He said, ‘In 364 days, I’ll be back here to get it,’” Kelly O’Neal said.
Also there was an elderly vet and restaurant regular who only left his Lincoln County home to visit the Rally Point. They learned that after he died In Hurricane Helene.
Tiffany O’Neal has a special place in her heart for veterans who have mental health struggles.
“There are 22 veteran suicides a day. I won’t rest until there are none,” she said.
One way the restaurant spreads joy is through military-specific celebrations. The O’Neals have celebrations planned the entire week after Veterans Day on Tuesday, Nov. 11.
“We have become a gathering place for the military,” said Kelley O’Neal, adding “All this week we have parties planned and little celebrations. We celebrate every branch with its own cake on different days.”
They also celebrated the 250th anniversaries of the Army, Navy and Marine Corps this year.
Their menu has fun, military themes such as an all-beef flamethrower smashburger with hot sauce and peppers, the Sgt. John F. Burner Burger with bacon and choice of cheese, and valor fries – “a hero’s portion of fries topped with braised beef, beer cheese and smokehouse sauce.” Some items have both military themes and alliteration such as a medivac meatloaf, which is a meatloaf with a barbecue sauce glaze.
They have truly homemade banana pudding and will have cranberry and apple cobbler around Thanksgiving, but they are not open on Thanksgiving itself.
Rally Point Grille is a family restaurant.
Tiffany O’Neal has created coloring sheets with people in military uniforms so that service people can discuss their uniforms and service with their children.
The restaurant has karaoke, acoustic and jazz bands on a small stage, and trivia nights – some with a military theme.
She said they have put a lot of sweat, tears, love and energy into the business, including while they experienced their own devastation after Hurricane Helene. They provided ice from the restaurant to those who needed it, and they continued on with the business as best they could. She said many area businesses really came together to help each other out, and they continue to assist one another.
Team Rubicon USA, a veteran-led humanitarian organization, came to help with cleanup after Hurricane Helene. Tiffany O’Neal invited them to eat at the restaurant, and they came three times.
“Ma was going to feed them dinner again,” she said.
The couple have been married since 2009 and have three adult children in their 20s, including one who followed in the family military tradition and is serving in the Army.
Tiffany O’Neal was a Navy petty officer third class.
“We were the first divisions to graduate after September 11, (2001) / (9/11),” she said.
Kelly O’Neal, was a major in the Army. Among his deployments were two tours in Afghanistan and one to Iraq.
After leaving the Navy, Tiffany O’Neal returned to her home state of Kansas and went to Kansas State University, where met her future husband who was stationed at Fort Riley. They moved to the area upon retirement, and Rally Point Grille was born.
South Carolina author, former teacher and veteran journalist Ron Baxley, Jr. is currently working on a Southern television series. His latest novel, “O.Z. Diggs the Fifth Estate” is available in regional comics shops, bookstores and gift shops. Reach him at ronbaxleyjr.com.
