Talk of the Town - Whitley County

 

(Talk of the Town photos by Laura Hull) Above, the Whitley County Korean War Veterans Honor Guard prepares to retire the colors at the end of the ceremony. Below, local boy scouts participated in the event on Sunday. 

 

 

By Laura Hull & Deb Lowrance

 

The Peabody Public Library hosted their sixth annual Salute to Veterans event at Indian Springs Middle School on Sunday.

As guests arrived at the event, registrations were handled by the Whitley County Korean War Veterans Honor Guard and the Leatherneck Coffee Club. Four veterans from Leatherneck Coffee Club lent their services by registering attendees and by handing out flowers during our recognition of families.

The colors were presented by Boy Scout Troup #94.

Cathy Gallmeyer, director of Senator Lugar's Northeast Indiana office in Fort Wayne, read a letter from the senator on the importance of the Veterans History Project, which he sponsors. Peabody Public Library participates in the project by recording and preserving local veterans service memories. A copy of each interview is sent to the Library of Congress and a copy in kept at the library where the interviews may be viewed by anyone who has an interest.

The Chain O' Lakes Barbershop Chorus raised their voices in song and tribute throughout the afternoon adding a truly wonderful musical element to program.

Video clips of local veterans participating in the Veterans History Project were played. We would like to stress that as the days and years go by we are losing opportunities to capture, record and preserve the remembered experiences of our local veterans.

Information gathered during registration was used to determine who was the youngest veteran, oldest veteran, and veteran with most years of service attending the 2008 Salute. The youngest veteran was Robert Wentworth, the oldest veteran was Clarice Mitchell and the veteran with the most years of service was Harold Lehman. The awards were presented by Peabody Public Library board members with an address given by board president Bob Brittain.

The Chain O’ Lakes Barbershop Chorus also sang while a photo montage featuring a 'Tribute to Fallen Heroes' was displayed on the screen. The Whitley County families of loved ones who have served in the military and have since passed on had the opportunity to submit photos that were used in the tribute. A person didn't need to have died while serving to be included. We consider each veteran a hero for having served and want to give thanks and pay tribute to that service.

Grant Loy, dressed as a War of 1812 private, spoke of remembering those who gave to establish our freedoms through our history. A bell was rung three times by Craig Chivers in remembrance of the fallen, representing the death burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Loy read a list of names of the first to die for freedom in the fight against the British.

Pastor Jim Cress of Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church gave the Invocation and the Benediction.

Colors were retired by the Whitley County Korean War Veterans Honor Guard.

Joe Wentworth played "Taps" to end the program. Joe has played for the PPL Salute to Veterans every year since 2003.

 Refreshments, provided by the Friends of the Peabody Public Library, were served by members of the De La Balme Chapter of the D.A.R.  Jill Daniels baked the cookies and made the punch.

The Peabody Public Library would like to thank everyone who attended and participated in the 6^th annual Salute to Veterans that was held at Indian Springs Middle School on November 16, 2008. Our thanks go to the Korean War Veterans Honor Guard, Boy Scout Troop 94, Pastor Jim Cress, Chain O’ Lakes Barbershop Chorus, Joe Wentworth, Grant Loy, Craig Chivers, T-N-T Floral, the Leatherneck Coffee Club, Colonel Augustin de la Balme Chapter of the D.A.R., Friends of the Peabody Public Library, Indian Springs Middle School and the Veterans Celebration committee.

But most importantly, we thank the many Veterans in our community who have given of themselves to keep our country free.