GALION – A small group of veterans were busy Tuesday, Nov. 11. It started with the annual breakfast at the American Legion and was followed by a ceremony at the Heise Park Veteran Memorial Triangle then an assembly at Galion High School and a ceremony honoring veterans.
Elected officials, veterans and residents gathered at the Veterans Memorial Triangle at Heise Park to honor veterans who have served America. The short ceremony was directed by Dennis Easterday.
“It’s an honor to be here today,” he said. While pointing to the American flag he said, “This is their [veterans] flag. Today we honor veterans.”
At the Galion High School gymnasium, Principal Ron Williams said last year’s ceremony was brief and this year he wanted to expand it.
“I come from a military background. I think it’s important to recognize the service of our current and past veterans,” he said.
With the help of school librarian, Nancy Green, and veteran Dennis Easterday, the high school students were presented with what it is like to be a veteran.
“We wanted them to experience something that doesn’t come out of a text book,” said Green. “We are blessed this year to have a World War II vet who can speak with us.”
“They need to know why we have the freedoms that we do. If it weren’t for our veterans, who knows what kind of shape we would be in. You can’t teach an experience like those guys are going to share from a text book. These guys were there. They experienced it,” stated Green.
The students were given a quick overview of flag and veteran ceremony etiquette: When the colors are posted (when the flag passes by) stand and hold your hand to your heart; when the pledge is spoken, stand and hold your hand to your heart; when the National Anthem is sung, the Star Spangle Banner, stand and hold your hand to your heart; when the colors are retired (when the flag leaves) stand and hold your hand to your heart.
Green added that when someone enlists in the military, they sign a blank check up to and including his or her life. “That is an honor.”
Each veteran spoke a little about their experience in the military. Speakers were Vic Smith, Marines WWII; John Pifher, Army Korea; Steve Hazelwood, Army Vietnam; Guido Lane, Air Force multiple Iraqi campaigns including Desert Shield and Desert Storm; Capt. Brett Green, Army-National Guard Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan; and Dennis Easterday, Army, Korea.
Easterday closed the assembly asking the students to look at the flag often and to “be aware of what made that flag… Freedom is not free.”
The high school entryway displays the photos of past Galion graduates serving in the military. Above the large board is an American Flag. That flag will be replaced with a new flag, one that was flown over Afghanistan in 2012 during Enduring Freedom. It was donated to the high school by the Ohio National Guard.
As students filed out of the gymnasium, many thanked the veterans for their service.
