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Veterans are “true heroes” of democracy, courthouse speaker says
YOUNGSTOWN
Active military personnel and veterans are “the true heroes” of American democracy, a local veterans organization leader told more than 100 people at the annual Veterans Day observance in the Mahoning County Courthouse.
“We come together to recognize and commemorate the veterans of Mahoning County for their service to this great nation during war and in peace,” said Samuel Swoger II of Austintown, commander of the United Veterans Council of Greater Youngstown, an umbrella group of local veterans organizations.
“We remember how men and women from our country set aside their civilian pursuits to serve their nation’s cause, defending our freedom and preserving our precious American heritage,” he said Tuesday.
Commitments to serve “our country and its causes are the pinnacles of true citizenship,” he said.
“We continue our endeavors on behalf of world peace with profound gratitude to the men and women who served as part of the noble cause,” he told the audience of veterans, judges and county officials.
Tony Revetti of Austintown, UVC junior vice commander, said the courthouse is a fitting venue for the observance because it contains courts and county government offices that are central to the function of a democracy and because its main entrance vestibule contains plaques and photo displays that honor the service and sacrifice of local veterans.
Retired Army Maj. Patrick “Rick” Williams, Veterans Affairs director at Youngstown State University, told the crowd the university stands ready to assist nearly 400 veteran and military students enrolled there as they make the transition to civilian life and careers.
YSU offers counseling for veteran students, assistance with GI Bill applications and disability accommodations, tuition refunds for National Guard and Reserve members deployed to active military duty in midsemester, a veteran and military student organization, and a computer lab, lounge and study hall for veterans in the newly opened campus veterans resource center.
The Post 9/11 GI Bill, enacted in 2009, pays college tuition in full, $1,000 a year for books, and a living stipend of more than $1,000-a-month for veteran students, he said. “You can practically go to school almost free if you qualify,” Williams observed. “Over 2 million veterans nationwide qualify.”
During the ceremony, the voices of 55 students from St. Joseph the Provider School at St. Anthony Church in Brier Hill reverberated through the marble rotunda of the 103-year-old county courthouse as they sang patriotic songs.
Among those attending were Judge Robert Rusu of Mahoning County Probate Court, Judge Shirley Christian of common pleas court, Judge Diane Vettori of Mahoning County Area Court in Sebring, Commissioner Carol Rimedio-Righetti, county Auditor-elect Ralph Meacham and Youngstown Councilman John R. Swierz, D-7th.