Harrison Central honors local veterans with breakfast

A packed house of local veterans, family members, friends and Harrison Central administration and board members gathered in the Harrison Central High School cafeteria for a Veterans Day recognition ceremony. The event also included a breakfast prepared by cafeteria staff. A highlight of the morning was the opportunity for students, from preschool through grade 12, to sit beside their veteran family members.

Harrison Central Director of Communications Katie Sedgmer opened the celebration by recognizing special guests and outlining the day’s program. She then introduced student Marley Zeroski, who led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance.

The Harrison Central Select Choir, directed by Angela Zalenski, followed with a performance of the national anthem. Afterward, student Corey Feezel read the poem “We Remember.”

The Senior Service-Learning Project was introduced as a way to honor local veterans. Students displayed one of the benches to be installed at Sally Buffalo Park, each featuring the name of a local veteran etched into the backing. A special bench was also created to honor Dirk Harkins for his ongoing work supporting veteran programs and other local initiatives.

Sedgmer presented a proclamation from Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine recognizing Harkins for his contributions in Harrison County and the surrounding region.

“This is quite a surprise, and I want to thank you,” Harkins said. “I was prepared to just spend some time with my brother and sister service members. Honoring these ladies and men is more important than any badge I may have earned during my service.”

Harkins praised the choir’s performance. “The anthem as sung by the students was great,” he said. “I actually got chills. I would like to meet the music director later and invite her and the choir to sing at one of our upcoming events.”

Following the ceremony, Sedgmer dismissed the group to enjoy breakfast.

Afterward, student Alexis Hardwick introduced the keynote speaker, Air Force veteran Kristen Willis, who served from 2003 to 2008. Willis is also a member of the Harrison Hills City School District Board of Education.

Willis shared stories from her service, recalling leaving for basic training in January 2003. “Believe it or not, that was my first time flying,” she said. “Yes, I joined the branch famous for its aircraft without ever having been on one.”

She said she served two years of active duty at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico before transferring to the Pennsylvania Air National Guard in Pittsburgh, where she spent the next six years. Though never deployed, she said that service members stateside provided essential support to those serving abroad.

“Support is exactly what I want to speak about today,” Willis said. “As veterans, family members and friends, we have a profound responsibility to support those who have served and those still serving.”

She encouraged listeners to listen and validate veterans’ experiences, participate in buddy checks, engage in their community, volunteer time, share important information about benefits, and connect veterans to professional help when needed.

“For mental health support, the fastest way to get immediate, confidential help is to call the Veterans Crisis Line at 988 and press 1,” she said. “You can also text 838255.”

“We can help combat high veteran suicide rates by checking in with others, even if we don’t know their struggles,” Willis said. “Asking for help does not make you weak. We all need help sometimes — physically, mentally, emotionally or spiritually.”

Army veteran Joseph Schmidli praised the event afterward. “This veteran recognition event held at the school was amazing,” he said. “The faculty and the seniors did a great job. Thank you so much for constructing the benches that will be placed at Sally Buffalo Park. We live in such a great community, and it’s rewarding to know that people care enough to put on an event such as this.”

District Principal Ken Parker closed the program with words of gratitude.

“This has been a good day for all of us,” Parker said. “I believe today’s attendance surpassed last year’s, and that’s a very good thing. I want to thank everyone who participated, especially the cafeteria staff and the students who helped make the day special for their family veterans.”