MANSFIELD, Ohio – The campus of The Ohio State University at Mansfield and North Central State College recognized current and past military veterans Tuesday morning inside Bromfield Hall/Conard Learning Center with a memorial dedication and a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new student-veteran lounge.
The ceremonies were followed with a breakfast for veterans of the Korean War, as well as others in attendance.
Col. Michael Howard, a retired Air National Guard veteran, was the keynote speaker for the roll call and a memorial plaque dedication.
During his speech, Howard said the plaque project memorializes those who have served in all branches of the military. He also said the number of people currently serving represents less than one percent of the nation’s population.
“Our obligation is to give these brave warriors their due,” he said. “Recognizing their ongoing contribution to our great country is the least we can do to say thank you.
“Thank you for your service, thank you for your courage, thank you for your dedication – we would not be here without you.”
The bronze veterans plaque wasn’t quite finished in time for the dedication, according to student-veteran advocate for OSU-M Josh Hurrell. He wasn’t sure when it would be completed.
“It’s going to be a straight up-and-down plaque that has all five branches of the military and will be mounted to the flag pole to keep from wear and tear and from being hit,” he said. “It’s going to be a commemorative plaque to honor those veterans on campus and our branches of service.”
As a veteran himself, Hurrell said having the plaque will mean a lot to him.
“Just seeing a plaque definitely is enough to make you feel that you’re welcome, that you’re needed here on campus,” he said. “And just to have that honor to be able to drive by every day and see that and know that [the schools] not only care about your education but also that they care about your service to your country.”
After the dedication, attendees were dismissed to a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the campus’ new Veteran Lounge.
The room, which is on the second floor of Bromfield Hall/Conard Learning Center, was designed by Julie McCready, co-owner of McCready Interiors and Norwalk – The Furniture Idea in Ontario. She co-owns the business with her husband, Tom.
A former student of OSU-M, Julie McCready said she used her nephew, Army veteran Adam Boyce, as a contact point about how best to design for veterans.
“A veteran needs a specific way of being able to study,” she said. “Because some of them have been in war and some of them have post-traumatic stress, you need to understand how they want to study without their back to a window or to a doorway or that loud sounds can distract them, so I used that as my vision of how to design.”
She said she was “fortunate” to have partnered with other local businesses that helped furnish the room, recognizing Morrison Drapery and Blinds and Oswalt Office Furniture as well as veterans of the Korean War as those who helped.
“I’ve lived in this community my entire life, and so has my husband, so as small-business owners, we are so proud of our community and are proud to support any endeavor that comes our way,” Julie McCready said. “Whether it’s a small child with cancer or a family that’s trying to do a missions trip or whatever it is, but we’re here because of our freedom.
“Our freedom allows us to have a business, to have a beautiful home and to live in a great country, so to do something that honors our veterans is very much a part of who we are.”
Col. Howard said the room is a “fabulous place” for veterans to be able to spend time and perhaps swap stories and get help with homework.
“There are quite a few veterans who go to campus here at Ohio State, as well as North Central, so it’s a pretty strong community that’s pretty well connected,” he said. “And there are a lot of full-time military people who are in the (National) Guard and reserves who come out here, as well, so it’s a large military community.”
Celebrating 240 years of the Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps celebrated its 240th “birthday” Tuesday.
Hurrell, who served as a Marine from 1999 to 2002, said the day is like a second birthday for him.
“I go out and buy a Marine Corps cake every year and celebrate it,” he said. “A lot of Marines get together and go to several veteran locations and pretty much have a party and enjoy the day.”
