Every time America called, veterans answered, speaker says

SEE ALSO: Mooney honors alumni killed in Vietnam

By PETER H. MILLIKEN

milliken@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

Veteran's Day Ceremonies

Gallery

Veterans come from all walks of life, but what they have in common is that they answered their nation’s call to duty, a highly-decorated Vietnam War veteran told the annual Veterans Day gathering in the Mahoning County Courthouse rotunda.

“Every time America called, veterans answered,” said Robert E. Bush Jr., a Marine helicopter gunner, who received two Purple Hearts and a Navy Commendation Medal for Valor in Combat.

“Some answered with glee. Others answered with gloom, but the need was met,” said Bush, who is now director of the county Department of Job and Family Services.

“All we want for this call to duty, this service, is a simple ‘Thank you for your service,’’’ Bush said Wednesday.

“It seems, only in recent years, has it become politically correct to openly recognize veterans for their service,” observed Bush, who was inducted last year into the Ohio Military Hall of Fame for Valor.

Bush is a former Youngstown police chief and law director and a former chief of the criminal division in the county prosecutor’s office.

“There should be little distinction between those who served in war and peace,” he said.

“When you are away from home, missing family and friends, all those tears of loneliness are salty. We all cry the same,” he added.

“We recognize that service to our country and its causes are the pinnacles of true citizenship. We continue our endeavors on behalf of world peace and with a profound gratitude to the men and women who serve a part of that noble cause,” said Samuel Swogger III, commander of the United Veterans Council of Greater Youngstown.

The colors were presented by Youngstown State University’s ROTC color guard in the ceremony, which was organized by the UVC, an umbrella group of local veterans’ organizations.

The county commissioners presented Jennifer Baun, the UVC’s senior vice commander, with a resolution recognizing her for her induction this month into the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame.

Maureen Collins of Easy Street Productions sang the National Anthem.

The choir from St. Joseph the Provider School in Campbell sang “America the Beautiful,” accompanied by student bell-ringers as the sound echoed through the four-story marble rotunda of the 104-year-old courthouse.

An empty chair in front of the podium, embellished with a POW/MIA symbol, represented prisoners of war and military personnel missing in action.

“May we always remember them and continue to endeavor for their return and full accountability,” Baun said.