Master Sergeant Joshua L. Shields speaks at the Benjamin Logan Veterans Day ceremony. (BENJAMIN LOGAN PHOTO)
Two distinguished service members from Logan County shared with Benjamin Logan students and staff and honored veteran guests Friday, Nov. 10, about many important life lessons they have gained through their service to our country.
Speakers Master Sergeant (MSG) Joshua L. Shields and Lt. Col. Robert Hume each addressed the audience during the hosted by the Benjamin Logan High School Student Government following a Veterans Day breakfast.
A native of Canal Fulton, Lt. Col. Hume now resides in Logan County with his wife, Kim, and daughter, Meghan.
MSG Shields is a 2001 graduate of Bellefontaine High School and currently lives in West Mansfield with his wife Abbey and daughters Madison and Marley. He currently works for the Ohio Division of Wildlife as a law enforcement supervisor in Central Ohio, where his agency specializes in wildlife law enforcement and environmental crimes.
“First, let me say that military service has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life,” the BHS graduate said. “It truly changed the course of my future and opened opportunities that otherwise never would have been possible. Of course, this came with the willingness to make sacrifices.”
MSG Shields joined the military not long before 9/11 on May 9, 2001. He left for basic training in June of that year, the same day he graduated from high school.
“What I had yet to plan on was the events of 9/11 shaping my future for the next two decades while serving overseas on two deployments.
“On Sept. 11, 2001, I had a plane ticket in my hand to fly home from a long summer of Army training in Oklahoma and Missouri, and I was excited to start college.
“My flight was canceled, and I took a Greyhound bus from Ft. Leonardwood, Mo., to Dayton, on Sept. 13, just two days after the towers fell.
“This bus trip was one I’ll never forget, one with patriotism, compassion, patience, sadness, shock, anger, and full of people from all walks of life, all united for one mission to support each other as American citizens.”
From 2001-2021, MSG Shields served in the Ohio Army National Guard as a combat engineer in Ohio’s 16th Engineer Brigade. He served overseas on a deployment in Iraq from December 2003 to March 2005 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Kuwait from June 2020 to May 2021 in support of Operation Spartan Shield.
In addition, MSG Shields served on two humanitarian missions in Central America: in 2001 in Nicaragua and 2002 in Panama, where construction teams built public school buildings and restrooms for tribal communities.
He encouraged the students and fellow attendees that the best way you can thank a veteran is through action.
“Each of you will have an opportunity to leave an impact. Most of us know veterans or have family that served in the military. Honor them by being kind, volunteering, impacting your community, and being a leader within your own family. This is the kind of action that veterans respect.
“In the Army, we live our daily lives by a code of ethics and values that drive each decision we make. These values include loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage. I challenge you today to focus on just doing little things to serve your friends, your parents, your teachers, or your coaches, and I promise you that your little decisions will start to change the world in a big way.”
Lt. Col. Hume graduated from Kent State University in 1994, and was commissioned through the Reserve Officer Training Corps program.
He spent 21 years on active duty as an intelligence officer in the U.S. Air Force, and five years as an intelligence corps civilian. The featured co-speaker held a Top Secret clearance for over 23 years, and has conducted intelligence operations in air, space, and cyberspace, including several combat deployments.
Also an educator, Lt. Col. Hume taught a master’s degree program at the Air Command and Staff College, where he was invited to be a guest instructor at The NATO School and Germany’s Military Leadership Academy.
He offered three practical ways that students and community members can help honor service members’ sacrifices and supporting the Constitution: by following the rules, voting and being nice to others.
Lt. Col. Hume noted that patriots respect and follow the laws; even if inconvenient
“I didn’t take an oath to only protect the rights of those who look like me, worship like me, vote like me,” he said. “I swore to protect a peaceful, democratic process of electing leaders and making laws
“Sometimes laws need to change. If so, we don’t fight about it; we use our rights of free speech and assembly to talk about it.”
He encouraged patriots to express their opinions at the ballot box.
“Patriots don’t fight with other Americans, we vote. It’s a way to settle differences and find solutions peaceably
“Patriots are constructive, building things better, not destructive. Patriots know we’re on the same team.”
Relating to “being nice,” he said some people “might snicker at this, but a ‘more perfect union’ requires unity. If we aren’t getting along with each other, our enemies win.”
Lt. Col. Hume encouraged the students to: say hello in the hallways, high five, fist bump; invite someone alone to join your lunch table; treat others with respect for their opinions and lifestyles; don’t troll or bully people; keep your comments positive; when you see someone who’s having problems, help them out.
“Get to know your neighbors and ask your parents or teachers how you can get involved at school, church, or community organizations.
“Because we’re all on the same team.”
The ceremony began with the singing of the National Anthem by the Show Choir and the Pledge of Allegiance led by the President’s Roundtable.
Tyler Young led the Fourth Grade Choir in singing “This is My Country”. The 7th & 8th Grade Choir and the High School Choir, led by Michael Dove, sang “God Bless the USA.”
The High School Concert Band led by Mr. Myles Bowers performed the “Armed Forces Salute.”
Eight-graders Cara France and Aaron Gonzales read poems to explain why it is so important to remember and honor Veterans Day.
To conclude the event, Graham Studebaker and Caleb Knight sounded Taps.
Finally, the BLHS Student Government announced they would be donating $500 to the Wounded Warrior Project in support of their mission to assist our nation’s veterans every day.
Benjamin Logan students shake hands with visiting veterans at Friday’s activities. (BENJAMIN LOGAN PHOTO)