BLHS graduate featured speaker at county Veterans Day ceremony
Dan Deardorff, a U.S. Army Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran, shared with attendees Thursday at the Logan County Veterans Day ceremony about nerve-wracking moments and also times of gratefulness while he was serving his country overseas in Afghanistan.
An East Liberty native, Deardorff joined the U.S. Army immediately after his graduation from Benjamin Logan High School. He performed Basic Training and his AIT for 13M (Multiple Launch Rocket Systems) in Fort Sill, Okla.
First stationed in Fort Sill with the 1-14th FA, he participated in 13M activities until 2006, when he was deployed to Afghanistan as a radar crewmember.
The featured speaker said when he was operating the radar, he was positioned at the back of a large Humvee. At times, he said there were “rockets that landed really close to us.” For his actions in these difficult situations, he was awarded a Combat Medal.
He said while he experienced indirect fire, he “never had to fire a rifle directly at someone or watch someone explode.
“I often think of these veterans often who have dealt with so much worse, those who have been ‘in the thick of it.’ Know that God loves you and will give you what you need if you draw near to Him.”
Relating to his gratitude instances while in Afghanistan, Deardorff said there were quiet moments that provided him with more time to grow in his faith and delve into God’s Word.
“I had more time to grow closer to God and open up my Bible,” he said. “I’d encourage anyone who is looking for direction in their life to open God’s Word. The gospels are pretty easy to understand.”
Some animal friends also provided welcome distractions to the area native and his troop members, as they nurtured a dog back to good health that stayed with them for their entire deployment, and the service members rescued a turtle as well.
Following a 13-month deployment, the BLHS graduate was re-stationed at Fort Sill, where he attained the rank of sergeant and demonstrated leadership in many activities, such as Post Flag Detail and Funeral Honors Duty.
Separating from the Army in 2011, Deardorff currently lives in Springfield, where he works as a manufacturing engineer. His family attended the ceremony at the Holland Theatre, including his wife and two young children, Vivian and Logan.
After Deardorff’s presentation, area resident Christine Greener approached the stage, stating that she is a gospel singer and felt lead to share a song. She sang America The Beautiful, closing out the ceremony.
The Benjamin Logan High School band, directed by Myles Bowers, also provided music for the ceremony,.
Prior to the indoor ceremony, the county’s Veterans Day observance began outside by the Logan County Courthouse, with the Logan County Honor Guard and Color Guard performing a flag raising and firing three vollies.
Then the Logan County Commissioners offered a special dedication for the national holiday by designating the north side of the courthouse as Veterans Plaza.
Two signs with the plaza’s name were unveiled by American Legion Harold Kerr Post 173 representatives Junior Goings and Past Commander Woody Woodruff.
Commissioner Paul Benedetti said the county had wanted to find a way to pay tribute to local veterans, and they observed a similar effort in Delaware County that inspired this Veterans Plaza designation.
“We were happy to pay tribute today to our local service members, creating this place of honor by the courthouse.”