Alliance: Veterans Day speaker urges younger vets to be more involved

ALLIANCE − Ted Mathies delivered a message for younger military veterans: Be more involved in veteran benefits and services.

Mathies, an Army veteran who served as a combat medic in Vietnam, was the keynote speaker at Friday's Veterans Day service in Alliance.

Due to rain, the ceremony was moved from Freedom Plaza in downtown Alliance to inside the nearby Firehouse Theatre. The change prevented a 21-gun salute and laying of wreaths.

The service, planned by Alliance Veterans Council, honored veterans of all military service. Frank Barnes, chaplain of the American Legion Post 166 in Alliance, was the emcee.

The council includes members of American Legion Post 166, Disabled American Veterans Alliance Chapter 50 and Vietnam Veterans of American Chapter 157.

In addition to Mathies, Augie Grove played Taps and members of the Alliance High School Band also performed. There were other speakers, as well.

Mathies said the VA offers educational and medical programs that would benefit younger veterans, but not enough of them take advantage of the services.

"We need to encourage them to seek all the VA benefits. They don't," he said. "If they don't enroll in the VA, the rest of us veterans suffer. If they don't care, we still suffer."

Further explaining, he said: "You know how the bean counters go: The more members you have, the more money you get. If you don't sign up, you don't get that money."

He said he survived cancer three times, crediting the VA medical personnel. "This isn't your father's VA anymore. It has evolved," Mathies said. "It's one of the best medical centers."

"For veterans, who have good health insurance and have no reason to go the VA, that's wonderful," Mathies said. "But, by just signing up, it helps the rest of us."

Mathies, a Cuyahoga Falls native, was drafted into the Army on Dec. 3, 1968. He arrived in Vietnam on May 3, 1969, and was honorably discharged on Dec. 3, 1970.

His awards and decorations included the Bronze Star, Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Combat Medic Badge.

After his military service, Mathies worked for Massey-Ferguson and Lexington Technologies. He retired in 2014. He served as a volunteer with the Marlboro Volunteers.

Mathies also volunteers at MAPS Air Museum in Green, where he created a display called "Military Medicine: History and Education."

"We do so much education out there (at MAPS)," he said.

Laying wreaths project

Beth Zbasnik, a member of the Jane Bain chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, also spoke at the ceremony.

She said the local DAR chapter will be participating in the National Wreaths Across America event on Dec. 17, and they hope to get the community involved.

The group plans to lay wreaths at the graves of military veterans buried in Alliance City Cemetery. There are about 1,500 veterans there.

Zbasnik said organizations or individuals can sponsor a wreath for $15. Their goal is raise enough money to lay at least 500 wreaths; more, if possible.

'It is our duty.'

City Council President Art Garnes also spoke at Friday's service. The former school superintendent shared a quick history lessons on those in attendance.

Garnes explained the U.S. honors the military three times a year: Memorial Day, for the fallen; Armed Forces Day, for those currently serving and Veterans Day, for all veterans.

"As citizens of a free country, it's our duty to always honor our veterans," he said "and to remind our children, our friends and our neighbors the freedom we take for granted are there because of veterans."

Reach Benjamin Duer at 330-580-8567 or ben.duer@cantonrep.com. On Twitter: @bduerREP.

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This article originally appeared on The Repository: Alliance's Veterans Day service urges younger veteran involvement