By Monty Siekerman
At a Veterans Day program on campus Friday, Ohio Northern University recognized the ultimate sacrifices the men and women gave and saluted those who made it home safely with more than 150 people in attendance near Dr. Henry Solomon Lehr's statue on Main Street.
"I have traveled to 34 countries and the United States is the greatest one on earth," said the main speaker, Col. David D. Kretz. He is commander of the Wright-Patterson AFB, directing over 2,100 personnel with a $54 million budget.
He noted the local football stadium is in War Memorial Park, named in honor of those who served. Growing up nearby, he recalled going to athletic contests in Ada and swimming at the pool here.
He encouraged all those presently in the military to serve their communities on return, helping in schools, churches, local government, and service clubs.
The local VFW Post presented colors, ONU President Dan DiBiasio and Mayor Dave Retterer issued welcomes and laid wreaths, the University Singers sang patriotic songs, and two students ended the program by playing Taps.
The Veterans Day program is traditionally held near the ONU founder's statue, appropriately so due to his service in the Civil War.
Flags--124 of them--were placed in the ground near where the audience sat. Each flag was in honor or memory of a loved one.
The program was held on a sunny November day with whisks of white clouds overhead---a peaceful place, right out of a Norman Rockwell painting, thanks to our men and women who fought, and are still fighting, to keep our freedom.
PHOTO IDS:
Ada VFW Post 9381 Post the colors.
Randy Trayer, of rural Ads, was a helicopter copilot.
Tyler Turner, president of the Ohio Northern Veterans Organization.
ONU President Dan DiBiasio (left) and Ada Mayor Dave Retterer place wreaths.
Tyler Turner (left), president of the Ohio Northern Veterans Organization, and Col. David D. Kretz, speaker.
