2nd annual trip gets moving this morning
A hero’s welcome greeted close to 50 local veterans, their spouses and companions today as the Vets to D.C. group left Bellefontaine at 8 a.m. on two charter buses, flanked by a police escort, motorcycles and military trucks.
A truck loaded with veterans passes under a garrison flag at the intersection of Main Street and Columbus Avenue during this morning’s sendoff parade for the second annual Vets to DC trip. (EXAMINER PHOTOS | REUBEN MEES)
Area residents lined Main Street, cheering and waving American flags, to show support and gratitude to the veterans of World War II, Korea and Vietnam who received the all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., to tour the city and see their war memorials for the first time.
Organizer Scott Stewart said this week that his crew of about 35 to 40 volunteers, including his wife, Lisa, have put much time into planning and fundraising to make the three-day trip “as special as we can.
“We have this one chance to make this memorable for them,” said the area resident, who assisted with the former Shelby County Vets to D.C. program for a number of years. “It’s an honor for us to do this.
“While I’m not a veteran myself, I have a real soft spot for veterans and am a big history buff. I’ve done lots of reading about military battles and heroes. We oftentimes think heroes come from other places, but there are so many amazing stories right here in Logan County.”
Stewart noted that among this year’s participants are two World War II veterans, one who is 94 years old, and another gentleman who marks his 94th birthday while they are on the trip. Also among the ranks are 10 to 11 guests who served during the Korean War, and the remaining honorees served in the Vietnam War.
The service members make up different branches of the military, with many of the veterans from the U.S. Army, and others from the U.S. Navy, Marines and the Air Force, Stewart said. Various ranks also are represented, from privates to captains, lieutenants and lieutenant colonels, and highly-decorated individuals, including Medal of Honor winners.
“Some have seen combat and others have not, but they’ve all got this bond because of what they’ve been through and the sacrifices they’ve made. We see instant friendships develop, and I’ve been so privileged to say many of the veterans have become my fast friends as well,” Stewart said. “I feel so fortunate that many of them confide in me.” ….
Student essay writers essays to accompany veterans
BY THE BELLEFONTAINE EXAMINER STAFF
Indian Lake High School student Samara Jakeway and Bellefontaine High School student Madison Krock each has embarked on an unforgettable journey. They are accompanying local veterans and their spouses and companions on the 2017 Logan County Vets to D.C. trip that left Bellefontaine today.
The group will tour war memorials and important sites in the nation’s capital and return home Sunday.
The high school students each earned the all-expense paid trip and opportunity to go with the group by winning an essay contest conducted this spring.
Earlier this week, Madison and Samara shared their essays during a dinner with the group.
With two grandfathers who served in the Army, Samara said she sees veterans as people who gave up their freedoms, people in need of help and people who deserve to live life to the fullest.
“I see veterans as heroes who deserve the respect of every red-blooded American here today. Every freedom, right and privilege was earned with a veteran’s sacrifice,” she wrote in her essay, as provided by Indian Lake Schools.
At the dinner, the teens got the chance to meet with several local veterans from the Vietnam War, Korean Conflict and even World War II with whom they will be traveling. Samara said she plans to make stronger connections during specific times of the trip.
“I’m really looking forward to the social hours that are planned with the veterans after our first day of traveling and after we tour the memorials. Not that I won’t get to know them when we’re are visiting the memorials, but I feel like that’s a time for them to reflect,” she said.
Also at the dinner, the student honorees were presented with special coins to commemorate the trip.
Throughout the weekend in D.C., the pair will also document the activities by conducting interviews with veterans and writing about the experiences.
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Read complete story in Friday’s Examiner.
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