FPS staff report
March 24, 2009
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Six members of Carroll American Legion Post 428 were honored at the Legion’s birthday dinner.
The honorees are shown above giving a military salute. Seated (from left) are Charles M. Nichols, a 65-year Legion member who served in the U. S. Navy from 1942-45; Robert W. Tasker, a 65-year Legion member who served in the U. S. Army from 1943-45, and Charles (Danny) DeBertrand, a 60-year Legion member who served in the U. S. Air Force from 1942-45.
Standing (from left) are Glenn R. George, a 50-year Legion member who served in the U. S. army from 1952-53; John H. McLoney, a 50-year member who served in the U. S. Army from 1945-46; George E. (Bud) Smith, a 50-year member who served in the U. S. Navy from 1942-45, and Ronald P. Davis, a past commander of Carroll American Legion Post 428 who presented pins and plaques to each of the honorees. |
Six American Legion members whose years of membership total 340 were honored at the annual birthday dinner of Carroll American Legion Post 428 held Saturday evening at the Ponderosa Steakhouse in Carrollton.
Also honored during the program were three of the six winners of this year’s Americanism and Government test program who received certificates and savings bonds from the American Legion Post and American Legion Council.
The six longtime American Legion members who received pins and plaques from Ronald Davis, a past American Legion Post commander, included:
Charles M. Nichols and Robert W. Tasker, both 65-year members; Charles (Danny) DeBertrand, a 60-year member and Glenn R. George, John H. McLoney and George E. (Bud) Smith, all 50-year members.
The three county test winners honored at the dinner included Jessica Burks, a senior at CHS who was both a local and county test winner; Taylor Burchfield and Kyle Cotnoir, both local test winners.
The local winners received certificates and $50 savings bonds from John McLoney, local American Legion Post commander, and framed certificates and $100 savings bonds from Rodger Barto, commander of the Carroll County American Legion Council, sponsors of the annual event.
Guest speaker was Carrollton Schools Assistant Superintendent Robert Mehno who acknowledged that as a son of a World War II veteran, service organizations, including the American Legion, have been the focal point of his growing up and developing the character of himself and his 7 siblings.
“Many days we were at the Legion Hall or VFW Post for activities and helping others. My father will turn 86 on Monday and every week he looks forward to my brother and I taking him to the various service organizations on Saturday,” Mehno told the Legion members.
Emphasizing that the people in the Legion are heroes, not athletes or movie stars, Mehno said that has always been his belief as well. “The veterans were heroes when they served in the military and heroes when they went to work every day making sacrifices and serving the community,” he said.
“We were taught that sacrifice and service were important. I remember in college when many of my peers were skipping class and asking me to join them I would say: If my father could fly missions in the Japanese theatre when he was 19, I think I can get up and go to English class when I am 19 as well,” Mehno commented.
“He taught me that you have to make sacrifices to be successful and nonsuccessful people will see sacrifices as a punishment and ask, “Why do I have to do this.” The impact of these heroes and the cornerstone of sacrifice and service become evident when I have faced adversity,” Mehno said.
“This was especially true when 22 years ago I had a kidney transplant. Prior the transplant I spent several years on dialysis and had both kidneys removed.
“The support group and people that were there for me and my parents were the heroes from the military service organizations. My positive attitude and perseverance was instilled from not only my veteran father but the values he learned in the Army Air Corps and became an important part of our family today,” Mehno told the group.
Turning to the American Legion playing a vital role in the Carrollton Exempted Village School District as well, Mehno said the Americanism and Government contest that the American Legion sponsors is important to the students of the school district.
“I would like to take this time to congratulate the post and county winners of that contest who are here this evening. The American Legion also is responsible for making possible for our students to be part of the Boys and Girls State. The Carrollton school district has the most impressive Veterans Day assemblies I have ever seen. This is due to the involvement of the veterans that come to the high school, middle school and elementary schools and make this a special event for our students,” he added. |
