Veterans honored during walk, ceremony in Centrevlle
CENTREVILLE – More than two dozen U.S. military veterans were saluted during a Veterans Day ceremony Saturday in Centreville.
Sponsored by the village’s Downtown Development Authority, the event featured a walk over what was the equivalent of about four blocks. The procession followed the village’s Military Freedom Walk along the south side of Main Street, from Clinton Street to Yoder’s Country Market.
Organizers estimated about 50 people took part in the walk and about 30 veterans were a part of the post-walk fanfare at Yoder’s.
“A beautiful morning … it was a great walk,” said Rick Shaffer, DDA president and master of ceremonies.
Prior to the walk, Shaffer and a few other DDA members – along with State Sen. Jonathan Lindsey – met with veterans at Fairview Nursing Home.
Seated in a reserved section at Yoder’s, veterans and participants were treated to free donuts and coffee. Veterans in attendance stood, introduced themselves, and cited the branch and years in which they served.
In addition, Shaffer and fellow county commissioner Dennis Allen, and Lindsey all addressed the group.
Lindsey, an Army veteran who served 2009-2016, said he was pleased to see a community get behind local heroes who served on a large stage. He went on to describe his desk on the Senate floor in Lansing.
“I have three memorial bands sitting on my desk that I look at every day because there are three guys I served with who didn’t come back,” he said. “We should continue to do exactly what we see here today, which is rally around our veterans and be supportive of them.”
Lindsey continued.
“One of the most powerful things we can do if we really value our veterans is put pressure on the people who are in charge of our military to make sure the people who are serving now – our future veterans – are really treated the best way they can be,” he said.
Allen, who served in the Marines, said the military is comprised of an elite group of men and women who make sacrifices to ensure the nation’s freedom.
“To me, there’s no greater honor – other than serving the Lord – than to serve our great country,” he said. “I thank all of you (veterans).”
Shaffer concluded the program by leading a rendition of “God Bless America.”
Nottawa resident Charlie Pomeroy, who served in the Marines 1968-72 and spent 11 months in Vietnam, said he appreciates the time taken Saturday to acknowledge veterans current and past.
He said there was no question he would be in attendance.
“I’ve come to (the Centreville) event every year they’ve had it and I look forward to coming back next year,” he said. “This is always a nice program they put on and today was no exception.”
This article originally appeared on Sturgis Journal: Veterans honored during walk, ceremony in Centrevlle
