Barnett Gets Order Of Kos Award During Vet Ceremony
Barnett Gets Order Of Kos Award During Vet Ceremony
Posted
Jennifer Peryam-jperyam@timesuniononline.com
Barnett Gets Order Of Kos Award During Vet CeremonyApproximately 80 Kosciusko County residents and veterans gathered Wednesday at Center Lake Pavilion to remember those who have fought for freedom.
Ken Locke, Salvation Army community ministries director, presented Mike Barnett with the Sons of the American Legion Squadron 49 Order of Kosciuszko award.Barnett served in the U.S. Navy from 1961 to 1965; served as an Indiana state trooper, retiring in 1992; and retired Nov. 5 as the Kosciusko County veterans affairs officer.
"It is with a great deal of honor that I have served the veterans of this county, and it is an honor to receive the award," Barnett said.
The annual award recognizes a veteran that has provided exceptional service to God, country and others in the spirit of Thaddeus Kosciuszko, a Revolutionary War hero.
To qualify for the award, a person must be an honorably discharged veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces, a Kosciusko County resident for no less than five years and provide exceptional volunteer or public service to others in Kosciusko County.
The recipient also must provide public service to law enforcement, fire or emergency services or service to the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars or other veterans organizations.
Former recipients of the award were Donald Frantz, 2004; Doug Brumfield Jr., 2005; Robert Lichtenwalter, 2006; Richard "Dick" Dobbins, 2007; and Tom Everett, 2008.
Chaplain Tom Everett provided the invocation, remembering those who have lost their lives in the line of duty and those who are currently serving.
Kosciusko County Extension Chorus sang patriotic songs.
American Legion Post 49 and VFW Post 1126 Honor Guard posted the colors. A 21-gun salute was given and "Taps" was played.
Mike Davis, American Legion Department of Indiana northern vice commander, gave a Veterans Day speech.
Davis spoke about ordinary people accomplishing extraordinary things and said that is who veterans are.
"Some have endured great hardships, separation from family and drastically altered lifestyles," Davis said. "Some have experienced the horrors of war, but all have sacrificed something so that we could enjoy the freedoms we have today."
He said it would be a stretch to believe that extraordinary accomplishments were coincidences, and not due to the discipline, motivational skills, calmness under pressure and leadership traits.
Davis read names of veterans of Post 49 who lost their lives, and VFW Post 1126 Quarter Master Larry Criswell read names of deceased soldiers from the post.
