One hundred twenty-five veterans and their guests were honored when Jenkins-Vaughan Post 97 of the American Legion, Cardington, sponsored and hosted the Veterans Day dinner at the Post Home on November 11.
Co-hosting the event were members of the Chester Arbor of the Gleaners Life Insurance Society who helped set up the tables and serve the chicken/beef dinner. They decorated the tables with American
Pocket calendars and mints as table favors given as gifts to those attending. The Gleaners also contributed monetarily to the event.
Emcee was Jeff Sellars, Post 97 Commander. Giving the opening prayer was Jerry Ruth, Chaplain. Jim Morris, Post First Vice Commander and Past National Vice Commander, introduced the following guests: Bart Arndt, a member of Post 97 who is currently the Sixth District Commander; Barbara Arndt, Sixth District Auxiliary President; Ernie Brovont, Past District Six Commander; Duane Rinehart, Past Sixth District Commander, Jim Crawford, Sixth District Chaplain and Bruce Fissell, president of the Morrow County Veterans Committee.
Recognized for their years of American Legion membership through Post 97 were Leonard Benson, 66 years; Ernie Brovont, 52 years; William Burns, 64 years; Richard Himler, 40 years; Jim Morris, 45 years; and Richard Rush, 49 years. Not present but named were Earl Gattshall, 62 years; Bob Gompf, 67 years and Vince Strine, 51 years.
Veterans were recognized who served in the US Army; the US Navy; the US Marine Corps and the US Air Force.
Bruce Fissell, recognized Tommy Van Dyke and Matt Harruff from Superior Outdoor Management, for the work they have done on the landscaping at the Morrow County Veterans Memorial. He awarded them a recognition plaque.
Thirty hand stitched quilts were given away by drawing; 27 were the Veteran Valor Quilts created by members of the Morrow County Quilter’s Guild and three by the women of St. Paul Lutheran Church’s Sewing Circle. Co-chairing the Veteran’s Valor Quilt project are Kathy Prince and Linda Caudil, the latter unable to be present. Assisting with this raffle were members Dorothy Houpt, Ellen Shaw and Barb Darlington. A special quilt, created by Sandy Lyman, was auctioned and purchased for $150 by Tommy Van Dyke.
There are 55 members in the guild who meet monthly at the First Presbyterian Church in Mount Gilead and once a year they attend a retreat at the Heartland Camp. Their focus is always the creation of quilts.
Post 97 conducted the Post Everlasting service for members who passed away the past year. Those veterans are Bill Burns, Herman Ericson, Jim Ullom, Bill Philbrook, Joe Harris and Carl Peterson. Participating in the service were Bruce Fissell, Jim Crawford, Bart Arndt, Norah Bowers and Ken Rush.
Assisting the cook, Susan Sands, in the kitchen were six Highland High School students, four of them being members of the NJ Highland ROTC.
The closing prayer was given by Esther Cellan, Unit 97 Chaplain.
Post 97 officers are Sellars, commander; Morris, first vice commander Crawford, second vice commander; Fred Barber, finance officer; Dave Leonard, adjutant and Jerry Ruth, chaplain.
Evelyn Long is a correspondent with the Morrow County Sentinel and can be reached at [email protected].
