By Monty Siekerman
Roger Guyton, who served during the Cuban Missile Crisis, was honored for his service when he attended the Flag City Honor Flight during a busy 24 hours last week.
He and 82 other veterans, along with their guardians, left Toledo Airport, flew into Baltimore, where a police escort wisked them to D.C.
The group, from northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan, stopped to see the World War II, Korean, Vietnam, and Air Force memorials.
Roger was impressed by the changing of the guard in Arlington Cemetery.
After lunch, the group boarded three buses to see Iowa Jima, Washington Monument, the Pentagon, White House, Capitol Buildings, Smithsonian and Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials.
A flight back to Toledo, a bus ride to Findlay, and a car ride home to Ada ended an eventful but long day.
Roger served in the Navy from 1951-54. During the Cuban Missile Crisis he was aboard the command ship USS Newport News. They were to stop all ships going in and out of Cuba. After being warned, no ship tried to penetrate the blockade.
Roger, born and raised in Alger, lived there most of his life. His main job was with Ohio Steel, but he also served as Alger water and wastewater superintendent. He also worked for ONU for a few years.
He and his wife Connie moved to Ada 10 years ago to a home they had built on Pampas Road.
Having lost two children, he and Connie founded the local chapter of The Compassionate Friends. They led the organization for 20 years.
Another vet from Ada was on the Flag City Honor Flight, as well. The Ada Icon will interview Jan McNeal, once we catch up with him, about his reflections on the Honor Flight trip. Jan lives in rural Ada and is a longtime sidekick of local attorney Charles VanDyne.
Photos: Roger Guyton and son Steve at memorials in Washington, D.C.
