Army combat medic who served in Vietnam recognized as Flagler County Veteran of the Year

U.S. Army veteran Charles W. Hanger, who was recognized on Veterans Day as Flagler County’s Veteran of the Year, didn’t tell any war stories when he accepted his award Friday.

Instead, he shared a story about when his eighth-grade science teacher had the 40 to 50 students in the class lift up one of the school’s basketball players, who had laid down on a piece of plywood. Each student placed one finger beneath the plywood.

“And it was incredible how little work it took to lift that big eighth-grader up in the air and put him back down,” Hanger told the audience at the Flagler Auditorium in Palm Coast on Veterans Day Friday. “And that’s what I want to talk about today: That there is power in numbers.”

Hanger said that in a similar way, veterans could lift up their community. He said there are about 13,000 veterans in Flagler County and about 5% or 10% are members of veterans' organizations.

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The ceremony, which was presented by the Flagler County Commission, the City of Palm Coast and the Veterans Advisory Council, had originally been planned for Central Park in Town Center, but was moved to the Flagler Auditorium because of Tropical Storm Nicole.

Joseph Pepin, a Palm Coast resident who served in the U.S. Marine Corps and is commander of the American Legion Post 115, was the guest speaker.

“From the Revolutionary War to the War on Terror, brave men and women have stood guard for freedom and we are enjoying it right now on this beautiful day in Florida,” Pepin said.

Pepin said the American Legion’s efforts led to the creation of the U.S. Veterans Bureau, which was “the forerunner” of the Veterans Administration. He also said a former legion commander wrote the first draft of the G.I. Bill, which helped veterans get a free education and improved their lives and the lives of their families. Their education and upgraded skills also helped the country as a whole, he said.

Pepin encouraged veterans to get involved.

"I hope today I’ve done my part to dispel the untrue and unfortunate stereotype that veterans service organizations are a bunch of old timers sitting at the bar telling war stories," Pepin said. "As you see, nothing could be further from the truth."

Soon after Pepin’s speech, Hanger was recognized with The Colonel Gary E. DeKay Flagler County Veteran of the Year Award.

Hanger was born in Rockville, Maryland, and served in the U.S. Army from 1969 to 1971, according to his introduction. He was a combat medic in Vietnam where he was wounded in action and received a Purple Heart. He also was awarded a Bronze Star medal for exceptional heroism for making his way through intense enemy fire to reach wounded comrades and administer aid and then exposing himself to enemy fire as he evacuated the wounded. It was one of many times he demonstrated heroism in combat in Vietnam.

Hanger is a lifetime member of Disabled American Veterans Chapter 86 and other veterans organizations. He is the founding member of Brave Aid, Inc., a nonprofit which helps veterans financially during emergencies. Its website is braveaid.org. He is also a member of the Flagler County Veterans Advisory Council.

Hanger and his wife, Jennifer, have lived in Palm Coast since 1979.

Hanger recalled another veteran, the late President George H. W. Bush, a Navy pilot in World War II, who would later speak about “1,000 points of lights.”

Hanger said everyone can be a point of light to improve the lives of veterans and “by doing so, every resident in this county.”

“And God told us that he wants you to love your neighbor as yourself. That’s an easy concept,” Hanger said.

He asked veterans to reflect on how they can help.

“I can do a little bit more, a little bit more, little point of light, one little finger, come on down and join us,” Hanger said. “See if you can make our community a little bit better and I guarantee you, you will. And the rewards are incredible.”

Veterans Day in Volusia County

Several area Veterans Day events were canceled Friday because of Tropical Storm Nicole, but veterans and their history were not forgotten at the DeLand Memorial Museum and elsewhere Friday.

The Ormond Memorial Art Museum & Gardens called off its ceremony, but Amber Green, the manager of marketing and public relations, said the museum will be open on Saturday and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m., where a local collector will display artifacts from American wars. Also, thank-you cards made by children will greet veterans, she said.

And while canceling the Veterans Day program on Friday, DeLand MainStreet is still hosting its annual Volusia County Veterans Day Parade from 3 to 4 p.m. today. The parade will be on Woodland Boulevard in downtown DeLand.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Army combat medic recognized as Flagler County Veteran of the Year