Veterans, Gold Star Family Honored By Zimmer Biomet VRG
May 27, 2021 at 10:11 p.m.
Veterans, Gold Star Family Honored By Zimmer Biomet VRG
By David [email protected]
The ceremony was held at Zimmer Biomet, East Main Street, Warsaw, and livestreamed via Zimmer Biomet’s Facebook.
Army veteran and VRG Chairman Jim Waldrop gave the welcome to kick-off the annual ceremony.
“It’s a beautiful day in Warsaw, Indiana. On behalf of our CEO and president, our executive sponsor Zimmer Biomet Corporation, welcome to today’s ceremony. This is our Memorial wreath-laying ceremony that our Veterans Resource Group puts on every year,” he said.
He then recognized the ceremony participants. Cadets and members of the Warsaw Community High School Junior ROTC served as the color guard, as well as trumpet players.
The family members of Army Staff Sgt. Brock A. Beery – Pamela, Roger and Joel Beery – were in attendance to help with the wreath-laying.
“As part of the ceremony today, we are going to honor this native son of Warsaw, Indiana,” Waldrop said.
Also on hand was Jill Fewell, the president of the Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans and Indiana Gold Star, a nonprofit organization.
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1126 and American Legion Post 49, Warsaw, were the honored detail.
Holding the service banners of the different branches of the U.S. military were members of the VRG leadership team. All six branches of the military were recognized.
Other distinguished guests, including the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office, were recognized and on hand.
Following Waldrop’s comments, the colors were presented by the JROTC and the dual trumpet players performed the national anthem.
Community Outreach Pillar Chair for the VRG and U.S. Air Force veteran Cat Bowers gave a Memorial Day reading.
“I respectfully represent ZB veterans, the corporate leadership team, the collective team members of our company, all as we gather here with all of you to remember our fallen,” she said. “For the second year in a row, Memorial Day looks a little different to many of us. In many cases, our backyard barbecues and get-togethers are replaced by video chats and other modern marvels of technology. But, still, we hold some semblance of what life was and what we know it will be again soon.”
However, she said, for countless families across the nation, Memorial Day is a time of “stark and often painful reminders of those who are never afforded the opportunity to return home and be honored as veterans.”
Bowers said they were there to “honor the heroes; to remember their achievement, their courage and dedication; and to say thank you for their sacrifices.”
Approximately 2.7 million Americans recently were in Iraq and Afghanistan, she said. Most of them deployed were deployed more than once to the same location.
“Those who return to us are now members of our community and our neighbors. I would encourage you to get to know the veterans around you. Take a minute because I think you’ll be amazed at the stories of sacrifice that are known only to those who witnessed it first hand,” Bowers continued.
Then there are the “unbelievably brave” accounts of “countless heroes who can no longer speak for themselves,” she said. “Those are up to us to tell those stories, to honor their service and their memory by ensuring that their families and survivors are taken care of.”
As an example, she shared the story of Army Sgt. 1st Class Alwyn Cashe, who will become the first Black service Medal of Honor recipient for his actions in Iraq and Afghanistan. He died Nov. 8, 2005, 22 days after his fighting Bradley vehicle struck a roadside bomb in Iraq. It was his second deployment to Iraq since the beginning of Iraqi Freedom in 2003.
“The explosion that rocked the Bradley ruptured the fuel cell, engulfing the heavily fortified vehicle and its occupants in flames,” Bowers stated. “Not long after that, enemy bullets rained down on their position, but that didn’t stop Sgt. Cashe from doing everything he could to save his soldiers.”
Drenched in fuel, Cashe pulled the driver out, who was still on fire. Once the flames were put out, Cashe returned to the Bradley in his gas-soaked uniform and also became engulfed in flames.
“But he managed to pull six other soldiers out alive with more than 70% of his body covered in second- and third-degree burns,” Bowers said. “He also insisted on being the last person to be medically evacuated.”
Four of those soldiers, along with Cashe, ended up making the ultimate sacrifice. “They joined the ranks of heroes who were taken from us far too soon,” she said.
Bowers also shared the story of Medal of Honor recipient and U.S. Army (Retired) Capt. Florent Groberg. He was in Afghanistan in 2012 and put himself between a suicide bomber and his soldiers.
“Thankfully, Groberg survived. The vest of the bomber exploded and the terrorist was pushed away from the formation,” she said. “He said, ‘In combat, there might be a moment when you might have to make a decision that will more than likely determine whether you live or die. When you’re willing to put yourself in front of that bullet, in front of a suicide bomber, in front of a mortar, in front of anything that is going to kill you, you’re doing that for the love of your soldiers.’”
She said that while we may not know what was going through the mind of Alwyn Cashe, “we do know that he, too, loved his soldiers.”
The harsh reality of war and military service in general, Bowers said, is that not everyone will make it home. “Let us honor the memories of the heroes who are no longer with us today, and let us strive to live up to the example that they set, such selfless patriots, and be that every day,” she said.
To the families of the fallen, Bowers said, “Your courage and grace after such unimagineable loss is truly inspiring and we at Zimmer Biomet salute you.”
The Beery family then stepped forward to assist in the unveiling of the wreath in honor of Brock A. Beery and the many men and women who have given the ultimate sacrifice in the name of freedom for the nation.
Waldrop explained that a Gold Star Family designation indicates that a member of the family was lost during combat operations.
Brock Beery, a Warsaw native, was a staff sergeant in th Army National Guard, serving in both the Kentucky and Indiana National Guard. His overseas deployments included Egypt, Bosnia and Iraq.
“And while serving during Operation Iraqi Freedom on 23 March 2006, Staff Sgt. Beery’s vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device in an incident that occurred near Habbaniah, about 80 miles west of Baghad. Staff Sgt. Beery was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart. His other awards included the Kentucky Distinguished Service Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal and the Combat Infantry Badge,” Waldrop said. “Today, we honor this American hero’s selfless service and the sacrifice made by his family.”
After a moment of silence was observed, the Honor Guard gave a 21-gun salute. The buglers played Taps and a $2,000 check in Brock Beery’s name was presented to Fewell from the Zimmer Biomet Foundation for Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans and Indiana Gold Star. The mission of the nonprofit is to assist all Gold Star families in Indiana.
“The funds that you provided today will help with our outreach to the Gold Star families all across Indiana,” Fewell said.
Check out the full ceremony on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/cryinoutloudproductions/videos/357069915985651/
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The ceremony was held at Zimmer Biomet, East Main Street, Warsaw, and livestreamed via Zimmer Biomet’s Facebook.
Army veteran and VRG Chairman Jim Waldrop gave the welcome to kick-off the annual ceremony.
“It’s a beautiful day in Warsaw, Indiana. On behalf of our CEO and president, our executive sponsor Zimmer Biomet Corporation, welcome to today’s ceremony. This is our Memorial wreath-laying ceremony that our Veterans Resource Group puts on every year,” he said.
He then recognized the ceremony participants. Cadets and members of the Warsaw Community High School Junior ROTC served as the color guard, as well as trumpet players.
The family members of Army Staff Sgt. Brock A. Beery – Pamela, Roger and Joel Beery – were in attendance to help with the wreath-laying.
“As part of the ceremony today, we are going to honor this native son of Warsaw, Indiana,” Waldrop said.
Also on hand was Jill Fewell, the president of the Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans and Indiana Gold Star, a nonprofit organization.
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1126 and American Legion Post 49, Warsaw, were the honored detail.
Holding the service banners of the different branches of the U.S. military were members of the VRG leadership team. All six branches of the military were recognized.
Other distinguished guests, including the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office, were recognized and on hand.
Following Waldrop’s comments, the colors were presented by the JROTC and the dual trumpet players performed the national anthem.
Community Outreach Pillar Chair for the VRG and U.S. Air Force veteran Cat Bowers gave a Memorial Day reading.
“I respectfully represent ZB veterans, the corporate leadership team, the collective team members of our company, all as we gather here with all of you to remember our fallen,” she said. “For the second year in a row, Memorial Day looks a little different to many of us. In many cases, our backyard barbecues and get-togethers are replaced by video chats and other modern marvels of technology. But, still, we hold some semblance of what life was and what we know it will be again soon.”
However, she said, for countless families across the nation, Memorial Day is a time of “stark and often painful reminders of those who are never afforded the opportunity to return home and be honored as veterans.”
Bowers said they were there to “honor the heroes; to remember their achievement, their courage and dedication; and to say thank you for their sacrifices.”
Approximately 2.7 million Americans recently were in Iraq and Afghanistan, she said. Most of them deployed were deployed more than once to the same location.
“Those who return to us are now members of our community and our neighbors. I would encourage you to get to know the veterans around you. Take a minute because I think you’ll be amazed at the stories of sacrifice that are known only to those who witnessed it first hand,” Bowers continued.
Then there are the “unbelievably brave” accounts of “countless heroes who can no longer speak for themselves,” she said. “Those are up to us to tell those stories, to honor their service and their memory by ensuring that their families and survivors are taken care of.”
As an example, she shared the story of Army Sgt. 1st Class Alwyn Cashe, who will become the first Black service Medal of Honor recipient for his actions in Iraq and Afghanistan. He died Nov. 8, 2005, 22 days after his fighting Bradley vehicle struck a roadside bomb in Iraq. It was his second deployment to Iraq since the beginning of Iraqi Freedom in 2003.
“The explosion that rocked the Bradley ruptured the fuel cell, engulfing the heavily fortified vehicle and its occupants in flames,” Bowers stated. “Not long after that, enemy bullets rained down on their position, but that didn’t stop Sgt. Cashe from doing everything he could to save his soldiers.”
Drenched in fuel, Cashe pulled the driver out, who was still on fire. Once the flames were put out, Cashe returned to the Bradley in his gas-soaked uniform and also became engulfed in flames.
“But he managed to pull six other soldiers out alive with more than 70% of his body covered in second- and third-degree burns,” Bowers said. “He also insisted on being the last person to be medically evacuated.”
Four of those soldiers, along with Cashe, ended up making the ultimate sacrifice. “They joined the ranks of heroes who were taken from us far too soon,” she said.
Bowers also shared the story of Medal of Honor recipient and U.S. Army (Retired) Capt. Florent Groberg. He was in Afghanistan in 2012 and put himself between a suicide bomber and his soldiers.
“Thankfully, Groberg survived. The vest of the bomber exploded and the terrorist was pushed away from the formation,” she said. “He said, ‘In combat, there might be a moment when you might have to make a decision that will more than likely determine whether you live or die. When you’re willing to put yourself in front of that bullet, in front of a suicide bomber, in front of a mortar, in front of anything that is going to kill you, you’re doing that for the love of your soldiers.’”
She said that while we may not know what was going through the mind of Alwyn Cashe, “we do know that he, too, loved his soldiers.”
The harsh reality of war and military service in general, Bowers said, is that not everyone will make it home. “Let us honor the memories of the heroes who are no longer with us today, and let us strive to live up to the example that they set, such selfless patriots, and be that every day,” she said.
To the families of the fallen, Bowers said, “Your courage and grace after such unimagineable loss is truly inspiring and we at Zimmer Biomet salute you.”
The Beery family then stepped forward to assist in the unveiling of the wreath in honor of Brock A. Beery and the many men and women who have given the ultimate sacrifice in the name of freedom for the nation.
Waldrop explained that a Gold Star Family designation indicates that a member of the family was lost during combat operations.
Brock Beery, a Warsaw native, was a staff sergeant in th Army National Guard, serving in both the Kentucky and Indiana National Guard. His overseas deployments included Egypt, Bosnia and Iraq.
“And while serving during Operation Iraqi Freedom on 23 March 2006, Staff Sgt. Beery’s vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device in an incident that occurred near Habbaniah, about 80 miles west of Baghad. Staff Sgt. Beery was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart. His other awards included the Kentucky Distinguished Service Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal and the Combat Infantry Badge,” Waldrop said. “Today, we honor this American hero’s selfless service and the sacrifice made by his family.”
After a moment of silence was observed, the Honor Guard gave a 21-gun salute. The buglers played Taps and a $2,000 check in Brock Beery’s name was presented to Fewell from the Zimmer Biomet Foundation for Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans and Indiana Gold Star. The mission of the nonprofit is to assist all Gold Star families in Indiana.
“The funds that you provided today will help with our outreach to the Gold Star families all across Indiana,” Fewell said.
Check out the full ceremony on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/cryinoutloudproductions/videos/357069915985651/
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