Doug Theaker, President of the Richland County Veterans Service Commission and Korean War veteran, reveres all veterans, especially those who served in World War II.
During the Veterans Day parade and ceremony held in downtown Mansfield Tuesday morning, Theaker, who served as the parade grand marshal and featured speaker at the event, said, “My remarks today are for all veterans, but with that I dedicate these words, I dedicate these remarks to the World War II veterans.”
He continued, “Oh yes, you [World War II veterans] are the greatest generation. Sixteen million of you put on the uniform so I could be free. Four hundred and sixty-six thousand of you never came home. You paid the ultimate price, the price so we could be free.”
Theaker noted that there are less than two million World War II veterans alive today, about 300 of which are living in Richland County.
Many veterans of various wars attended and took part in Tuesday’s event. Stephen Stewart, an Army veteran attended with his family.
“Frankly we need to honor our veterans,” he commented. “A true veteran gives without asking for anything in return and the least we can show is our appreciation.”
Also in attendance were Richland County Commissioners Ed Olson and Gary Utt, as well as Mansfield Mayor Tim Theaker, state Rep. Mark Romanchuk, Common Pleas Judge Brent Robinson, and Mansfield Municipal Court Judge Frank Ardis, Jr.
Applause and cheers rang out in downtown Mansfield as members of the military passed by, hands raised in salute. About 36 units marched in the parade, including marching bands from Mansfield Senior High School, St. Peter’s High School, and Clear Fork High School, as well as an assortment of fire trucks and military equipment.
The parade began near the five-way light on Marion Avenue and traveled down Park Avenue West, ending at the Central Park Gazebo downtown.
At the ceremony’s start, Joan Wyatt, Commander of the Joint Veterans Council, said, “Today, we have gathered on the eleventh month, eleventh day, eleventh hour to remember, to honor, and pay tribute to our American veterans.”
The Star Spangled Banner was sung by John Darby and Burk Jisa led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Pastor David Root of Little Washington Congregational Church gave the invocation and said, “We gather today to remember, honor, and pray for all who have served us through the service of our country. In times of peril, you have called forth courageous and selfless individuals to face the dangers of war in the hope of establishing a lasting peace.”
The wreath presentation followed the invocation and was presented by Janet Grogoza. Three wreaths were placed by the gazebo in honor of veterans. Grogoza said, “These wreaths are dedicated to each and every veteran, and especially to those who are not here today.”
While giving his speech, Theaker expressed, “It truly is an honor for me to stand before you veterans today.”
He added, “I thank you for serving this great county, I thank you for your loyalty, I thank you for your patriotism.”
Veterans Day, which celebrates the service of all U.S. military veterans, marks the anniversary of the end of World War I. World War I officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919; however, fighting between the Allied nations and Germany ceased on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918. In 1919, U.S. President Woodrow Wilson declared Nov. 11 as Armistice Day, which evolved into the current Veterans Day holiday in 1954.
“Frankly we need to honor our veterans,” Stewart commented. “A true veteran gives without asking for anything in return and the least we can show is our appreciation.”
