Holmes-Wayne veterans honored with community-funded trip to D.C. memorials

The Holmes-Wayne Electric Cooperative’s Community Honor Trip to Washington, D.C. brought together two dozen veterans, most of them Vietnam veterans, who toured the nation’s capital, many of its monuments and more.

This year’s trip took place Sept. 26-28, with the group arriving home to a hero’s welcome in Shreve as family, friends and community members gave them a warm greeting.

The Holmes-Wayne Honor Trip is an opportunity for World War II, Korean and Vietnam War veterans to visit the memorials in Washington, D.C. that honor their service, providing veterans with a chance to share, bond and heal.

The three-day bus trip is entirely funded by private donations from individuals and organizations in the community and is coordinated by Holmes-Wayne Electric Cooperative, Shreve American Legion Forest Post 67 and Rolling Thunder Inc., Ohio Chapter 2.

This year saw another two dozen veterans honored with the opportunity to cherish the trip. Among them were Army attendees James Brown, Jim Cannon, Jim Daugherty, Dan Flory, Bob Jordon, Charlie Kiper, Al Lendrum, Chet Martin, Chris Pekarek, Steve Salisbury, Marcus Shields, John Smith, Jim Tegtmeier, Rocky Trussel, Woody Wilson and Ed Wolfe; Marines members Mike Edington, Linda Frenette and Dave Still; Air Force attendees Mike Hufford, John Pumneo and Jim Shaw; and Navy personnel Wilson and John Wise.

Each veteran was accompanied by a guardian, and in almost all cases, the guardian was someone who was close to the veteran.

There were more than a few tears of joy shed upon the group’s arrival in Shreve, and each veteran was loudly applauded as they exited the tour bus.

In welcoming home the veterans and guardians, Glenn Miller, Holmes-Wayne Coop president and CEO, said it was an honor to provide this trip.

Miller said the majority of veterans on this year’s trip were from the Vietnam War era, as well as a couple from Desert Storm.

“This has a special meaning for us to be able to offer this trip to our veterans,” Miller said. “It’s very humbling to be able to give these guys experience having this experience. It’s especially meaningful for the Vietnam guys because it is very healing having never received a great welcome home experience. We are so grateful to each of them for serving our country faithfully.”

Tom Hasskew, assistant Scoutmaster with BSA Troop 71 in Shreve, said bringing the bulk of his troop members to this event is meaningful because it gives his youngsters a chance to honor those veterans who served the country faithfully.

“We talk to the boys about how significant this event is, especially for the Vietnam veterans,” Hasskew said. “Every time we come here, we have veterans telling me how great it was to see all the boys here."

Upon arriving back in Shreve, there were plenty of hugs and tears prior to the veterans being seated and honored for their service.

Miller thanked each one and said he hoped they had a meaningful experience on the trip.

“This trip is truly a joint effort between Shreve American Legion Post 67 and Holmes-Wayne Electric,” Miller said. “In my mind this is one of the benefits of the small community we live in.”

Each veteran was presented with a special congressional certificate of recognition for their service, provided by the offices of Reps. Troy Balderson and Max Miller.

Shreve Mayor Josiah Martin thanked the veterans and said he is grateful to each service member.

“I’m grateful to each and every one of you, more so than I’ll ever be able to properly express,” Martin said. “I’m privileged to live in Shreve, and I’m privileged to raise kids here, kids who don’t know what war is on American soil. They’ve grown up enjoying freedom, and I’m grateful for that freedom. It is something that men and women like you have had to fight and die for.”

He then thanked Holmes-Wayne Electric Coop for taking time to make such a meaningful effort in honoring the veterans.

Retired Rep. Bob Gibbs then provided some words about the veterans’ importance to the community and the nation.

He eventually spoke about the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary celebration next year and said these veterans paved the way for that celebration.

“That is only possible because of our veterans who have served and fought for our freedoms,” Gibbs said.

He said the Founding Fathers of the nation created the idea of building a strong military filled with dedicated members willing to protect the nation’s freedom 250 years ago.

“This country was founded on three basic principles,” Gibbs said, “Judeo-Christian values, our constitutional republic and our free-market capital system. Those principles are imbedded in our Constitution, and that is what you were fighting for.”

Following the ceremony, the feel-good aura surrounding the veterans and visitors continued as the veterans accepted the gratitude of many people who shared the sentiments spoken about throughout the night.