National Veterans Memorial and Museum honors those in military with Veterans Day event

John Mensinger was shipped off to the Vietnam War in 1968 when he was only 22 years old.

While most people would've been afraid to go to war, Mensinger said basic training taught him to be prepared and tackle the challenge head-on.

"You have to be open to whatever happens," the Dublin resident said.

The Marine was a sergeant for the the 1st Maintenance Battalion, which worked with HAWK missiles. But the mission was short-lived, as Mensinger went back home after 20 days.

The now 76-year-old went on to serve in the Marines for three years before going back to college and taking on a career in field merchandising.

Mensinger was one of the people in the audience Friday for a Veterans Day ceremony at the National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus.

First called Armistice Day to commemorate the end of World War I, the federal holiday's name was changed to Veterans Day in 1954 in order to honor all who have served in the U.S. military.

Retired Army Lt. Gen. Michael Ferriter, president and CEO of the National Veterans Memorial and Museum, said that everyone should honor and celebrate veterans because "freedom isn't free."

"My call to action to you is honor a veteran," Ferriter said. "Call someone, text them, check in on them tonight. You may be the one that saves a life."

Ferriter also mentioned a recent visit to Olentangy Berlin High School in Delaware, where he talked to students about the military. He said he there were 500 students and 150 veterans at the school.

"The hope is in our youth; our hope is in the Constitution and our hope is in America," Ferriter said.

Following Ferriter was Eagles and James Gang guitarist Joe Walsh.

In town for this weekend's VetsAid concert at Nationwide Arena, Walsh said that his father, who was a U.S. Air Force flight instructor, was killed in a plane crash in Okinawa, Japan in 1949. Walsh was only two years old.

"He died before I could even make a memory of him," he said.

"He probably would've told me to get a haircut," Walsh added, referring to his long blonde hair. "Probably would've told me to keep up with my oboe lessons. I switched to guitar because it occurred to me you're not going to get any girls playing the oboe."

Born in Wichita, Kansas, Walsh came to Columbus at the age of 9 when his stepfather took a job at Nationwide Insurance. His family lived in a small house on Summit Street, he said.

Walsh said his father's service in the military prompted him to create VetsAid, a nonprofit and benefit music festival that raises funds to veterans groups across the country.

"I am an example of ... if you never forget your father, a Gold Star kid can grow up and make a difference," he said.

“What a blessing it has been for me and my family to pull this off in the city that nurtured my young mind and introduced me to rock and roll."

Ferriter then awarded Walsh a Marine coin for his work with the military.

Keynote speaker and Army veteran David Kim then talked about his organization the Children Fallen Patriots Foundation, which provides college scholarships and educational counseling to military children who have lost a parent in the line of duty.

His community service to Gold Star families awarded him the 2022 Veteran of the Year award by the Military Times Foundation.

Kim said the nonprofit was inspired by Army Sergeant William Delaney Gibbs, who left behind his wife and unborn daughter when he was killed during the United States Invasion of Panama in 1989.

Since 2002, the Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation has provided $61 million to thousands of 2,700 students, he said.

“Our fallen heroes will always live on as long as we gather together to honor their service,” Kim said.

mwalker@dispatch.com

@micah_walker701

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: National Veterans Memorial and Museum hosts Veterans Day event