Laketon Legion Post Gives Veterans a Lift
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Craig Brosman-
Tina Evans, vice president of the American Legion Auxilliary, met the veterans prior to opening the event at 7:45 a.m. Evans, who has two sons who are currently in the military, wanted to do something above and beyond for Veterans Day.
“We usually have a free dinner,” Evans said. “None of us feel that the veterans get enough recognition for what they do and we wanted to do something special for them.”
Evans had planned for veterans to be in contact with Veterans Affairs benefits officers throughout the day. Additionally Evans had scheduled a free lunch and dinner for the veterans.
Shortly before the veterans lunch was to begin at 10:30 a.m., Huey 369 from Grissom Aeroplex, Peru, landed in the grass behind the legion. Later in the afternoon nine veterans were selected to board an honor flight in recognition of their service. Laketon American Legion veterans Glen Boris, Bob Haecker, Gordon Ireland, Bill Elliott, Brian Hammons, Johnathan Dill, John Albright, Bill Day and Carl Selleck were all selected for the honor flight.
Joseph Bradley, 31, Laketon, and his family were among some of the veterans to register early in the day. Bradley spent two tours in Baghdad, Iraq, with the U.S. Army and currently is with the Air National Guard.
As a veteran Bradley finds himself particularly lucky and wanted to spend his day remembering those who are serving and have served before him.
“I came back. A lot of people didn’t. I’ve been pretty lucky,” Bradley said. “I had a good chain of command, quite a few weren’t so lucky.”
“Today is a good way to represent the men and women who do have to make that sacrifice,” Bradley said.
Bradley, whose family has a long history of service, joined the military in 2004 as a way to protect his family.
“I wanted to do my part for my country,” Bradley said. “If I do my part, I don’t have to worry about my family being selected.”
Dill, 20, North Manchester, one of Evans’ two sons currently serving, recently came home from a tour in Afghanistan. On Sept. 26, Dill arrived home from service.
While overseas Dill served as a combat engineer. His job was to clear the roads of improvised explosive devices.
On multiple occasions Dill had to call his mother and tell her that the vehicle he was in was destroyed by IEDs. Despite the unsafe job Dill had overseas he always knew what he wanted to do.
“I wanted to serve, it’s what I knew I wanted to do,” Dill said. “Military service runs deep on both sides of my family. It goes back five generations on my mother’s side and two on my father’s.”
Dill made a point to remember those who have served. As a man whose family ties to the military run deep he does not want to forget those who have served.
“Veteran’s Day is about remembrance,” Dill said. “If you forget the past you are doomed to repeat it. If we forget those who served and lost their lives, it will happen again.”
Dill has every intention of going back overseas and serving several more tours of duty.
“I fully intend to put my 20 years in,” Dill said. “I want to do another deployment or two.”
Evans was very optimistic about the possible turnout for the event. She thought that between 1,500 and 2,000 veterans from Indiana and Michigan could have shown up for the daylong event.
“We heard that there would be veterans here from as far west as Renselear and as far east as the other side of Fort Wayne,” Evans said. “We also heard that veterans from Indy to Michigan would possibly be here as well.”
At the end of the day more than 700 veterans registered for the first Laketon American Legion Veterans Day event.
“We are extremely excited with the turnout,” Evans said. “I think you can expect for this to become an every year event.”
[[In-content Ad]]
Tina Evans, vice president of the American Legion Auxilliary, met the veterans prior to opening the event at 7:45 a.m. Evans, who has two sons who are currently in the military, wanted to do something above and beyond for Veterans Day.
“We usually have a free dinner,” Evans said. “None of us feel that the veterans get enough recognition for what they do and we wanted to do something special for them.”
Evans had planned for veterans to be in contact with Veterans Affairs benefits officers throughout the day. Additionally Evans had scheduled a free lunch and dinner for the veterans.
Shortly before the veterans lunch was to begin at 10:30 a.m., Huey 369 from Grissom Aeroplex, Peru, landed in the grass behind the legion. Later in the afternoon nine veterans were selected to board an honor flight in recognition of their service. Laketon American Legion veterans Glen Boris, Bob Haecker, Gordon Ireland, Bill Elliott, Brian Hammons, Johnathan Dill, John Albright, Bill Day and Carl Selleck were all selected for the honor flight.
Joseph Bradley, 31, Laketon, and his family were among some of the veterans to register early in the day. Bradley spent two tours in Baghdad, Iraq, with the U.S. Army and currently is with the Air National Guard.
As a veteran Bradley finds himself particularly lucky and wanted to spend his day remembering those who are serving and have served before him.
“I came back. A lot of people didn’t. I’ve been pretty lucky,” Bradley said. “I had a good chain of command, quite a few weren’t so lucky.”
“Today is a good way to represent the men and women who do have to make that sacrifice,” Bradley said.
Bradley, whose family has a long history of service, joined the military in 2004 as a way to protect his family.
“I wanted to do my part for my country,” Bradley said. “If I do my part, I don’t have to worry about my family being selected.”
Dill, 20, North Manchester, one of Evans’ two sons currently serving, recently came home from a tour in Afghanistan. On Sept. 26, Dill arrived home from service.
While overseas Dill served as a combat engineer. His job was to clear the roads of improvised explosive devices.
On multiple occasions Dill had to call his mother and tell her that the vehicle he was in was destroyed by IEDs. Despite the unsafe job Dill had overseas he always knew what he wanted to do.
“I wanted to serve, it’s what I knew I wanted to do,” Dill said. “Military service runs deep on both sides of my family. It goes back five generations on my mother’s side and two on my father’s.”
Dill made a point to remember those who have served. As a man whose family ties to the military run deep he does not want to forget those who have served.
“Veteran’s Day is about remembrance,” Dill said. “If you forget the past you are doomed to repeat it. If we forget those who served and lost their lives, it will happen again.”
Dill has every intention of going back overseas and serving several more tours of duty.
“I fully intend to put my 20 years in,” Dill said. “I want to do another deployment or two.”
Evans was very optimistic about the possible turnout for the event. She thought that between 1,500 and 2,000 veterans from Indiana and Michigan could have shown up for the daylong event.
“We heard that there would be veterans here from as far west as Renselear and as far east as the other side of Fort Wayne,” Evans said. “We also heard that veterans from Indy to Michigan would possibly be here as well.”
At the end of the day more than 700 veterans registered for the first Laketon American Legion Veterans Day event.
“We are extremely excited with the turnout,” Evans said. “I think you can expect for this to become an every year event.”
[[In-content Ad]]
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092