Family and Friends celebrate promotion in rank with Colonel Stan Manes of Mount Pulaski

 

[January 02, 2019] 

On Saturday afternoon family and friends of Lt. Colonel Stan Manes gathered in the second floor courtroom at the Mount Pulaski Courthouse to celebrate Manes promotion to Colonel. Manes is a Mount Pulaski native who has enjoyed a successful military career. He is currently serving as the Commander, Area Support Group-Poland, United States Army Europe, Poznan, Poland.

Manes career began when he enlisted in the 1-123 Infantry Battalion in the Illinois Army National Guard in 1994. Manes has served his country in a number of commissions including in 2002 when he was deployed to Germany Operation Enduring Freedom as Commander of Bravo Company, 1-131 Infantry Battalion. In 2008 he was deployed to Afghanistan in support of Task Force Phoenix, 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team.

Manes with his wife Andi have spent the last few years stationed in Germany. The couple returned to the states in October of 2018 and took up residence in Sherman. In November, Manes was commissioned to return to Europe, serving this time in Poland. For this particular assignment, Manes will not be able to have Andi join him in Poland. She will continue to reside in Sherman.

On Saturday the program was led by Andi, who offered up opening remarks that included an expression of gratitude to the Mount Pulaski Courthouse for permitting Manes to hold his pinning ceremony in the historic courtroom. She also expressed appreciation to Brigadier General Michael Glisson, who was present to officiate the pinning. The BG, she said is from the St. Louis area, but had come with his family from Kentucky in order to be present on this day.

Andi asked for a moment of recognition for all service men and or veterans in the room. She asked them to stand for applause, then asked the room to stand for the National Anthem.

Following the anthem, Manes introduced BG Glisson, Director of the Joint Staff of the Illinois National Guard. Glisson spoke briefly, saying that the average officer achieves three promotions, but on this day, Manes would receive his fifth promotion, achieving the rank of Colonel. He noted that he has been with Manes in service, including the tours in Afghanistan.

Glisson noted that there is not always a lot of pomp and circumstance involved in officer promotions. He noted that in his own promotion history when he was promoted to Colonel he was called to field duty when he received the call that his promotion had come in. He said as he walked down the hallway to exit the Wisconsin Military Academy building going out the door he ripped off his old rank and put the new on one. He noted that it was good to have the ceremony as it serves to keep family and friends involved and invested in the soldier’s military career.

Mike Hayes, Veteran of the United States Marine Corp and Vietnam War, was called upon to deliver the official posting of the order. With Manes standing at attention, Hayes read the order aloud, that officially promoted Manes from Lt. Colonel to Colonel.

Manes then spoke, first thanking everyone for being in the room and showing their support.

He spoke about BG Glisson saying he was absolutely the best leader he has ever served with. He thanked Glisson and his family for their military commitment and sacrifice. He thanked all his family for being in attendance. Manes said he has not in the past done the best job of keeping family and friends involved in his military career, but it happened he was going to be home for the holidays from Poland, and the timing was perfect to include them in an official ceremony.

The next portion of the ceremony was fun and light-hearted as Manes called his family to the front to assist in adding the new decorations to his uniform. Manes mother did the honors of adding a pin to his dress blue coat. He then removed the coat and his sisters replaced the stripes on his shoulder boards. Wife Andi supervised the ceremony and assured that the proper decorations were put onto Manes uniform.

After the pinning, the ceremony turned somewhat serious as BG Glisson led Colonel Manes in reciting the oath of service. Glisson began with a history of the oath that was first written in 1776. He said the first oath made mention of King George the Third and the 13 colonies. He proceeded through the history saying that the wording had been changed a number of times, including in 1863 when the oath was changed to state “all enemies foreign and domestic” in reference to the Civil War.

After the Oath was administered, Manes took a few moments to speak again. He noted the value of the location where he stood, saying that it was very special to him personally as the great-great-grandson of Mount Pulaski founding father Jabez Capps. Manes said, “I can’t help but feel the presence of such greatness. As many of you know and have been bored to death by my stories, my great-great-grandfather having been the primary founder of this town, I know that my great-great-grandfather was in this room.”

Manes went on to acknowledge his wife and family who have sacrificed for his military career. He said now he was in Poland and what the United States is doing there now is exceptionally important. He noted that he needed to be there, and now it would be Andi who would feel the burden of being a military wife left at home to carry on without him.

The ceremony closed with the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, led by Colonel Manes. Afterward, he extended the invitation for everyone to cross the street to the Old Brickyard where there would be a reception.

According to the program handed out at the ceremony Manes has earned the following awards and decorations: Bronze Star, Joint Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Achievement Medal, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Army Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon, the NATO Medal, the Global War on Terror Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star, the Polish Armed Forces Medal, the Basic Parachutist Badge and the Combat Infantryman’s Badge.

Manes was born and raised in Mount Pulaski. He is the son of Carol D. Manes. He is also a graduate of the University of Illinois.

[Nila Smith]