|
 The project was brought to the Rotary by a
military mom Carrie Pethy. Names and photos of local veterans and
current members of the military were collected to produce banners of
honor to be hung around the Logan County Courthouse Square as well
as in Latham and Scully Parks.
Saturday, everyone gathered in Latham Park to celebrate the
completion of the first round of banners. Altogether, there are 38
banners that are now hanging. According to Rotary President Kirby
Rodgers, these banners will hang throughout this year for sure. They
will be taken down at Christmas time, then hung back up after that
holiday.
Meanwhile the Rotary will be accepting applications for the next
round of banners. When the Rotary determines that it is time, new
banners will be created and switched out with the current banners.
The banners that are hanging now will then be given to the person or
people who purchased the banner.
Saturday morning, Rodgers opened the ceremony announcing that there
were applications on hand. He said that anyone who wished to apply
for the next round could do so right away.
Rodgers then kicked off the official ceremony by
announcing the presentation of colors by the American Legion Color
Guard. Lincoln Alderman Ron Keller then led the group in the Pledge
of Allegiance to the flag.
Keller then spoke briefly on behalf of Lincoln Mayor
Seth Goodman who was unable to attend. Keller said that the day was
all about celebrating community and our veterans. He asked for all
veterans and military service people to please raise their hands to
be recognized.
He expressed appreciation to the Rotary as well as all the families
who had participated in the project by purchasing the banner for
their loved ones. Keller noted, I think this is a source of pride.
One the best thinks I can think about a community is knowing that
the citizens who are a part of this community, helped this
community, and helped our country. And that is what this is all
about.”
Keller then introduced the members of the committee who worked on
the banner project with the Rotary. Those members are Carrie Pethy,
James Harnacki, Ron Keller, Kirby Rodger, Bill Gossett and Don
Jordon.
Pethy was the next person to speak. As a military mom
she noted that she was so delighted, and explained that she had
become a part of a military mom support group on social media. There
she had learned of the banner program from a few others whose
communities were doing it. She said that she thought it was a
wonderful idea and set about trying to find people to get on board
with it. She noted that her first few attempts had failed as she
approached people who were unable to get on board with her. Then she
said she kept looking until she came to the Rotary and they were
happy to help. She said there was a great deal of appreciation for
them. She said that Mayor Goodman had been very supportive and that
she had also sought help from her local alderman, Ron Fleshman, and
he too was very supportive.
Rodgers spoke next saying that it is easy to lead a
project when one has good, willing workers, and he was appreciative
of all the committee members and others who picked up the ball and
ran with it. He then invited Pastor and Veteran Glenn Shelton to the
front.
[to top of second column] |
Shelton was to offer a few words and close the day
with a benediction.
Shelton remembered to the crowd that he was an airman who enlisted
61 years ago. He talked about how he came to be in the military. He
noted that his dad had told him at high school graduation that he
was going to get a job and work for a living. At 18, Shelton thought
that wasn’t what he wanted from life at the time. He went to the
post office to see all four major branches of the service. “All of
them wanted me! I felt needed for the first time in my life!”
Shelton said he joined the Air Force imagining that he would find
himself as a pilot, flying all over the world. However, the Air
Force had a different plan, and Shelton became a communication
operator.
Gesturing toward the Color Guard Shelton said “The thing I picked
out of the service was that flag. I came to honor and respect that
flag above everything else. It hurts me when people desecrate the
flag. Makes me want to cry because that flag represents peace,
safety, security, and I would do anything to make sure that it
always stands tall and flies with the breeze. I am a man of peace,
but I can be one who would resort to something other than peace if
our peace is threatened.”
We came today to honor those still among us and also to pay tribute
to those who have gone on, who gave their lives to secure our peace.
I for one served four years of active duty, two years reserve, and I
still will not forget the main the reason I was in the service is to
protect this country, our freedom and what that flag means to me. It
is evident that it means the same thing to all of you also.
Turning to Pethy he said, “I really appreciate you having this
placed on your heart, not only as a mother, this is God’s
intervention. And Kirby, thank you for stepping up and
stepping in to put this together.
"My brothers and sisters, love you all, thank you all, let’s never
ever forget our veterans and what they do to give us the kind of
peace that we now enjoy.”
Bill Gossett
Jim Harnacki
After a few more words, singling out Bill Gossett and
Don Jordon, and sharing words of appreciation for them, Shelton then
led the group in a closing prayer.
Rodgers announced that each of the committee members had a list of
banners and information about where the specific banners were
located. He said that everyone there was welcome to grab hold of a
committee member and find out where the banner they were interested
in seeing was at. He also noted that when the banners are returned
to the posts after Christmas they will probably not be in the same
place they are now.
With that the colors were retired and the day came to a conclusion.
Around the parks and around town afterward, many who attend the
ceremony were seen afterward seeking out their banner of interest
for photos and time to admire the overall impact the banners are now
having around the square.
[Nila Smith]
 |
