Logan County Veterans Service Director Shelley Kneece, along with many others in attendance at Monday’s Benjamin Logan Veterans Day assembly, were moved by the heartfelt service and tribute to local veteran heroes, which began with audience members young and old rising to their feet while joining the high school chorale in singing the National Anthem.
Participants paused with their hands on their hearts while the large U.S. flag was unveiled in the center of the Benjamin Logan High School gymnasium.
“This is one of the most meaningful ceremonies I’ve ever been to,” Kneece said during veteran attendee introductions that took place at the conclusion of the event. “I think speaker (BLHS senior) Eric Hughes said it well, this is a day of unity. I felt that unity and togetherness while we were all standing up and singing the National Anthem.”
The day’s activities were organized by the BLHS Student Government and the President’s Roundtable under the direction of staff member Trish Hemmelgarn.
The Logan County Commissioners also were in attendance to present their monthly distinguished citizen flag recognition to a district resident — U.S. Army veteran Philip Godwin, a 1957 graduate of Zanesfield Monroe High School.
Godwin was honored with the U.S. flag that flew above the Logan County Courthouse during October. He was joined at the ceremony by his wife of 57 years, Sheryl, and his son, John Godwin, a veteran of the U.S. Navy, who is also retired from the Logan County Sheriff’s Office and is currently serving as a School Resource Officer for Bellefontaine City Schools through the Bellefontaine Police Department.
A native of Zanesfield, E-4 Specialist Godwin entered the U.S. Army in 1961 and served through 1967 with the 5th Division Infantry in Ft. Carson, Colo. He also served in the Army Reserves, 83rd Division, in Marysville, as an E-5 Sgt., and with the 251st Division in Kenton as an E-5 Sgt. Among his military awards are the Army Expert Rifle and Good Conduct Medal.
Commissioners Mike Yoder and Mark Robinson presented him with the flag and also a patriotic quilt, created by Joan Skidmore of Belle Center.
“This is a great honor,” said the lifelong county resident and 48-year member of the Blue Jacket American Legion Post 599 in Zanesfield. “I’m receiving this as an honor on behalf of all Logan County veterans, especially the ones who never made it home. We must never, never forget them.”
Following the flag presentation, featured speaker Adam Bryant also shared from his experiences of his 24-year career with the U.S. Air Force. His stepdaughters attend Benjamin Logan Schools.
Veterans Day has always been a special day for Bryant, as it is also his birthday, and he celebrated his 46th birthday Monday.
During his earlier years, Bryant related that he dropped out of college more than once, but after entering the Air Force, he said a sense of determination was instilled within him. Now Bryant holds multiple degrees, including a Ph.D. from the Air Force Institute of Technology.
In honor of Veterans Day, Bryant’s presentation focused on the top five qualities of what it means to be a veteran, including number five, which is how diverse veterans and the veteran community are.
“While entering boot camp, I’ll admit, I had some pre-conceived notions about what type of people join the military — kinda brawny guys who might not be very smart,” he said. “But those expectations were totally blown off course. My bunkmates included a farmer and also a man from New York City who had never driven a car. I also soon met an Ivy League graduate who was studying to be an overseas translator, and met many former college athletes who also were very bright.”
Other commonalities that Bryant has observed among veterans include: 4. Driven by the core values of excellence, integrity and service before self; 3. Extraordinarily tenacious people, demonstrated by how they persist and stay the course through challenges; 2. Incredibly adaptable and “bloom where they are planted,” as they don’t necessarily get to pick their career field or field of expertise; and 1. Veterans have a sense of pride or patriotism.
“Each one of us had that feeling or notion of patriotism, and this is why we would sign up for something where we are literally risking our lives,” Bryant said. “You have to think about the importance of freedom that we have in our country.”
Patriotic musical selections and student reflections were part of the ceremony as well. Student Government representative Carter Yoder also announced a $500 donation to the Wounded Warrior Project that was generated through homecoming T-shirt sales.
Tristan Sheets opened the assembly by sharing the history and significance of Veterans Day. The fourth-grade choir, directed by Tyler Young, performed “Do You Wanna Know Freedom,” and musical performances continued with the seventh- and eighth-grade choirs and high school choir’s rendition of “America the Beautiful”; and High School Concert Band’s “Armed Forces Salute.”
BLHS senior Eric Hughes spoke on the importance of Veterans Day, emphasizing the unity he appreciates on this day that was referenced by Kneece. Eighth-graders Harlee Baker and Emma Murray recited poems dedicated to veterans, and goodie bags were passed out to veteran guests featuring baked goods made by the FCCLA and letters penned by third- and fourth-graders.
To close out the ceremony, Noah Stanford recounted the history of “Taps,” followed by a moving performance of the piece by Damon Johnson and Elliot Carpenter.
