by Kevin Lilly
To top off a sunny November day, more than 300 people gathered at the third annual Salute to the Armed Forces Gala Saturday night.
Standing ovations abounded for veterans throughout the event, which is a party/fundraiser hosted by the Cass County Roosters.
Through donations, a raffle and auctions, the club met its goal of $10,000 for repairs on the Soldiers and Sailors Monument in Mount Hope Cemetery in Logansport and $1,000 for Heroes Among Us, a local organization that sends 10 local veterans to the Veterans Day ceremonies in Washington D.C.
“That says something about Logansport,” said Rooster George Franklin of the support shown for veteran causes.
Those in attendance Saturday shared laughs, shed a few tears, gave thanks and welcomed home Vietnam veterans.
At the start of his speech, keynote speaker Zane “the Z Man” Hanna, a U.S. Marine who fought in Vietnam, had all the Vietnam veterans at the Knights of Columbus stand. He then told a story about a helicopter pilot who got welcomed home for the first time more than 30 years after returning from battle.
Many soldiers of that unpopular war suffered greatly from not only what they endured overseas but from the treatment they received upon coming home, Hanna said. He did not want local veterans to go unrecognized for what they did for their country.
“If you see one of these guys in this room that’s a Vietnam veteran, you want to honor him?,” Hanna asked. “Go up and put your arm around his shoulder and say, ‘Thank you’ and say, ‘Welcome home.’”
Patriotic ceremonies at the event held in memory of Cpl. Shawn Hensel, the Logansport soldier who was killed in Iraq in 2007, included recognition of all veterans, an oath of honor to the country and a remembrance ceremony for prisoners of war and soldiers missing in action.
At a table set for one, a candle burned as Vietnam veteran Tim Minnick led the POW/MIA remembrance ceremony.
“This table is our way of symbolizing the fact that members of our profession of arms are missing from our midst,” he said.
“Remember,” Minnick repeated while he explained the meaning of each item on the table. The salt stood for the tears shed by family and the slice of lemon stood for each soldier’s bitter demise.
Franklin presented plaques to two of the county’s oldest living veterans.
Babe Gordon, 84, fought in World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam. Randolph Lanning, 101, also served during WWII.
“We owe both of these gentleman a huge gratitude and a huge thank you,” Franklin said.
Vietnam Veteran Ron “Batman” Davis made a silhouette of a soldier with a gun kneeling at a cross that read, “You are not forgotten.” He presented his work to the Hensel family.
The band Tuxedo Junction played Taps, God Bless the USA, Star Spangled Banner and a medley of songs from each branch of the military.
Numerous local individuals and businesses contributed money and auction items. Up for bid was Indianapolis Colts memorabilia, a Napa tool cabinet and the fender from a Coors Light NASCAR race car.
Despite a tough economy, the Roosters still managed to hit their target. The money will be applied toward the estimated $32,000 required for repairing the 122-year-old war memorial that is dedicated to the unknown soldiers of the Civil War.
Kevin Lilly is news editor of the Pharos-Tribune. He can be reached at 574-732-5117 or kevin.lilly@pharostribune.com.
