The Order of Kosciuszko annually recognizes a county resident who is a veteran and has given exceptional service to God, country and others in the spirit of Thaddeus Kosciuszko, Revolutionary War hero.

This year's award was presented to Sgt. Douglas K. Brumfield Sr., a sergeant with the Warsaw Police Department.

Brumfield is a life-long county resident who served in the U.S. Army as a military policeman. He has worked for WPD for 33 years.

Brumfield received the award Friday at the Center Lake Pavilion during Veterans Day ceremonies sponsored by American Legion John C. Peterson Post 49, the Sons of the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

SAL Commander David Beall, who presented the award, said Brumfield's nomination form praised the officer's leadership abilities and "his continuing enthusiasm toward his job and the ability to control any situation that has come before him - and there have been many. In his line of work, he has the ability to help many people in our community. As co-workers, we admire his enthusiasm and willingness to serve our community."

Currently, Brumfield is on medical leave. His left leg recently was removed because of a blood clot. He plans to return to the police department following physical therapy.

Post 49's Adjutant Mike Davis received the Governor's Award from Gov. Mitch Daniels, which was presented by Robert Lichtenwalter.

C. Aaron Rovenstine was presented the Man of the Year award. In his absence, his mother Sandy Rovenstine accepted the award.

John Elliott was named Philanthropist of the Year.

Post 49 First Vice Commander Bob Morrison served as master of ceremonies, thanking the Kosciusko County Extension Choir for singing patriotic songs to open the event.

SAL member Ken Locke was guest speaker. He talked about President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's four freedoms: freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want and freedom from fear and how they were expressed in paintings by artist Norman Rockwell.

Locke, son of a World War II veteran, then talked about the new enemy faced by Americans: The "radical Islamic group ... that strives for world domination and submission to their way of life."

Locke called this new enemy a "faceless, gutless enemy."

He said we've not had another attack by terrorists similar to what happened Sept. 11, 2001, because our armed forces have placed themselves in harm's way.

When the war monument was rededicated Sept. 11, Locke was a guest speaker. He described how he felt looking at the late Capt. Todd Fiscus' widow and orphaned daughters sitting in front of him.

Because Fiscus was killed in Afghanistan, the monument was inscribed on its north face. Fiscus' name is on the eastern-most panel. Above the center panel on that side are the words "Freedom Isn't Free."

Locke said secularism is slowly eroding the foundations of the country.

"The phrase is 'freedom of religion, not freedom from religion,'" he said. He advised the audience to return to our bedrock values and morals or "we won't be singing 'God Bless America,' we'll be singing 'God help us.'"

Ceremonies included the traditional tolling of 11 bells while everyone faced East in remembrance.

Nov. 11 was originally Armistice Day and commemorated the end of World War I - the war to end all wars - on Nov. 11, 1918, at 11 a.m.

The names of 34 deceased members of Post 49 were read, followed by the names of 10 deceased members of the VFW. The program ended with a memorial 21-gun salute and the playing of "Taps." [[In-content Ad]]