Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Freedom isn’t free, and the demands for military personnel can be daunting and rigorous.
Guest speaker Master Sgt. John Peyton, USMC (R), said during the Veterans Day ceremony Wednesday at Oakwood Cemetery chapel, since the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, the government has continously asked citizens to risk their lives in service to the nation. Millions of men and women have answered that call and most of those who did returned to civilian life. Those people are veterans.
“We gather today to observe Veterans Day in the 250th anniversary year of our nation’s founding. I offer you no oratory or quotations from the pantheon of famous military, political and cultural figures I could have drawn from who have shaped our republic. Instead, I wil share a few thoughts and observations drawn from my nearly 60 years of experience as a Marine and an American veteran,” Peyton said.
“During my active service, I worked with some of the most exceptional individuals I have ever met - people of unsurpassed character, intellect and accomplishment. Because the mission of national defense is foundational to the freedoms that citizens expect, the demands on military personnel are rigorous. Every member must meet exacting more and physical standards; and continually develop their professional expertise and leadership abilities - or risk removal from service,” he said.
By eliminating visual markers of individually or personal style, military dress and grooming standards act as a social equalizer. These regulations discourage superficial judgments and biases based solely on appearance and impels them to connect through personal interactions, he said. This environment fosters camaraderie and a dedication to a common cause.
Veterans often carry these attitudes and perspectives with them throughout their lives, he said. “Beyond rank at the time of discharge, veterans often are mindful of the risks other veterans faced. Some served in direct combat; others faced danger while performing support duties; still others served in combat zones without often encountering its direct consequences. Most military personnel serve far from combat zones. These experiences differ, but each person’s service is an important part of a larger story of putting the country ahead of himself or herself.”
Peyton talked about 1st Lt. Allen Broussard, who commanded a provisional unit assigned to the emergency evacuation of personnel from the American embassy in Saigon, Vietnam, in April 1975. Peyton said Allen was a junior officer but the responsibility fell to him and the Marines under his command. They accomplished the mission.
Peyton said Allen once said, “Veterans are ordinary people who accomplish extraordinary things. They come from every background - young and old, rich and poor, every race and every religion. What they share is courage, pride, selflessness, determination, integrity and dedication to duty. Most did not ask to leave home for distant battle fields. They went because they were called to something larger than self. More often than not, their service to the nation did not end when they took off the uniform. Their lives continued to reflect the same core values: honor, courage and commitment.”
“Today, we pay tribute to the living while remembering the fallen. From the Greatest Generation through every generation that followed, we repay our debt through deeds, not just words. That means striving to be a community that remembers veterans on ordinary Tuesday, not just on Nov. 11,” Peyton said.
Service does not fall only on those who wear the uniform. It falls just as steadily on their families. They manage the moves, the schools, the bills and the long stretches of uncertainty, he said. They answer late-night phone calls and carry the household alone for months or years at a time. They learn to keep life running while half their attention stays fixed on someone in a place they cannot see and situations beyond that control. He said when veterans are honored, “we also honor the people who stood with them - often without rank, ceremony or public acknowledgement. Military families deserve the nation’s gratitude.”
Peyton said it is up to all citizens to leave something lasting for the next generation and continue to build a country rooted in mutual respect, honest institutions, thriving communities and the quiet understanding all free people take responsibility for themselves while helping one another.
Also during the ceremony:
• The Order of Kosciuszko was given to Adrian Anglin, the only known Revolutionary War veteran buried in Kosciusko County.
• The Meritorious Service Award was given to the Daughters of the American Revolution Agnes Pruyn Chapman Chapter.
• Veterans in attendance were given a commemorative patch celebrating the 250th anniversary of the country.
• Johnny Butler, commander of the Sons of the American Legion Post 49, talked about the Honor & Remember flag. He also told attendees about the Warsaw Salutes You banner program.
