A dozen local veterans were honored in a special ceremony put on by the Centreville Downtown Development Authority at Yoder’s Country Market in Centreville Tuesday.
By Robert Tomlinson
News Director
CENTREVILLE — About a dozen veterans in the local area were honored in a ceremony in Centreville Tuesday morning.
The Centreville Downtown Development Authority held its annual veterans’ celebration at Yoder’s Country Market on Veterans Day, a way to thank veterans for their service and show them appreciation from the local community.
The ceremony went on as scheduled, however due to the snowy, cold and slippery weather conditions, the traditional walk along the Veterans Walk in Centreville was cancelled. Despite not doing the walk, which would’ve been led by the Centreville-Constantine Police Department and ended with Yoder’s customers waving American flags as they came back, the appreciation still meant a lot to those who organized the event.
“I have a lot of respect for our veterans; my parents were both in World War II, and I’ve always been amazed by veterans. I’m so glad we have them, and that’s why we’re free,” Pattie Bender, the DDA’s program manager, said in an interview.
While it was a brief ceremony, with the veterans introducing themselves going around the dining area of Yoder’s, there was still plenty of appreciation for those veterans who came out to be recognized.
“You guys have sacrificed so much for protecting the rights we have here in America, and to see the dissention we have sometimes is certainly unfortunate, but this is the time for us to all come together,” State Rep. Steve Carra said during the ceremony. “We owe it to all of you, what you guys have done for our country.”
Elizabeth Campbell, a DDA board member who is also with the Daughters of the American Revolution, said just 1 percent of the population has served in the military, protecting the other 99 percent of Americans, something she said she is thankful for.
“You people are so special and you’re dear to my heart,” Campbell said. “As to everybody here to support you, I just want to say my personal thank you.”
Second District St. Joseph County Commissioner Rick Shaffer said it was a privilege to have the DDA put on the program, and mentioned the county’s Project Green Light initiative, as the Historic Courthouse in Centreville, along with some other businesses, put out green lights overnight in their buildings from Nov. 4-11 as a way to show their appreciation for veterans.
“It is beautiful, it is, and we thank our staff at the courthouse. It’s even got greater legs, so to speak, by many of the merchants who are illuminating their businesses or homes with green lights to recognize the service of our veterans,” Shaffer said.
The ceremony ended with everyone singing of God Bless America, and then gift bags were handed out to the veterans. Those gift bags included, candy, a notepad, tissues, deodorant, shampoo, chapstick, and a keychain.
Veterans who attended the ceremony were understanding about not being able to do the walk, but said the ceremony was still a good way for the community to show their thanks for their service.
“It’s nice to get together and all. I know a lot of them; I worked with one of them, and you just know a lot of them,” David Barrett, who served in the Marine Corps from 1967-71 and the Army from 1981-85 before ending with the National Guard, said. “When I came home in ’71, we were basically spit on. We were s***. We were nothing. Nowadays, it’s about time [we get recognition]. It should have been this all along.”
“It’s nice to come together to see veterans who understand what we’ve done. We all have similar remembrances and stories. We’ve all made a lot of friendships that’ve lasted forever,” Alan Murk, who served in the Army’s 101st Airborne in Vietnam for two years beginning
