Remembrance, reflection are themes at Struthers service
Trending
Under a brilliant November sky, members of the Struthers community gathered Wednesday morning at 11 a.m. at the Struthers Veterans War Memorial to honor the men and women who have served their country and remember the sacrifices made in defense of freedom.
The annual Veterans Day observance featured a presentation of colors by Boy Scout Troop 101, an invocation by Pastor Doug Theobald of Yellow Creek Methodist Church, and remarks from keynote speaker Jeremiah Hill, a Struthers High School graduate and Marine Corps veteran who was wounded twice during combat tours in Iraq.
The ceremony also included the placing of a wreath by Jan Brown, commander of AMVETS Post 44, a musical presentation of the official songs of the military branches and "God Bless America," and the national anthem, performed by Struthers student Delaney Painter. John Gandy served as master of ceremonies.
For Hill, the opportunity to address his hometown community carried a message shaped by his own experiences in war and the difficult journey that followed.
A familiar face in Struthers during his high school years, Hill was known as someone who was friends with just about everyone. Along with his twin brother, Jed, he was involved in football, where he served as team captain, and was even crowned homecoming king. He received college football offers, but his plans took a different direction following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
"I always wanted to be a Marine, but that was solidified after the events of the 9/11 terrorist attacks," he said. "Knowing other Americans would be going to protect our country from this happening again, I wanted to be right there fighting alongside them."
Hill enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 2004 and was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, Charlie Company, 1st Platoon, serving as an infantryman. Based at Camp Pendleton in California, he completed two combat tours in Iraq’s Al Anbar Province as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
During his first tour, Hill served as a machine gunner before becoming a fire team leader. On his second tour, he was a squad leader.
His unit served during the initial surge in Iraq, a particularly dangerous period of the war. Hill was wounded by improvised explosive devices (IEDs) during both deployments, earning two Purple Hearts.
The second incident occurred when he stepped on an IED, leaving him with injuries so severe that survival itself was uncertain. He spent a year hospitalized, first in Germany and later in San Diego, California.
Medically retired from the Marine Corps in 2008, Hill returned home to face another difficult challenge: adjusting to civilian life while recovering from his physical injuries and dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder.
He credits the lessons learned in the Marines, the support of his faith and the bond he shares with fellow service members with helping him persevere.
"The Marines I served with were the most influential part of my career," Hill said. "We formed a bond and brotherhood that cannot even be described."
His military experience, he added, taught him the meaning of honor, commitment and sacrifice, as well as the understanding that the freedoms Americans enjoy come at a tremendous cost.
Today, Hill has found a renewed purpose in preaching the Gospel and helping others find healing from their own wounds. He is also a devoted husband to his wife, Nicole, and father to their three daughters, Hannah, Noelle and Natalee.
His message for Veterans Day is one of remembrance and responsibility.
Hill hopes Americans will recognize the obligation they have to those who shed blood and those who never returned home.
"Freedom isn’t free," he emphasized.
Hill encouraged younger generations to recognize military service as an honorable calling and urged the public to demonstrate appreciation not only through words, but through respect for the freedoms veterans helped preserve.
JOHN GANDY
Gandy, a retired teacher and coach who served in the Army Reserve from 1972 to 1978, brought his own perspective to the observance. This was his fourth year participating as master of ceremonies.
Reflecting on his military experience, Gandy said there is no uniform a person can wear with greater pride than a military uniform.
He encouraged people to honor veterans by appreciating their freedoms and privileges, working toward national unity and being good citizens.
"Be a good citizen is the best thank you you can give a veteran," was the message he offered.
Gandy also emphasized that Veterans Day is an opportunity to recognize both past and present service members, along with the families who share in the sacrifices of military life.
One of the most meaningful portions of the ceremony for him is the presentation of the military branch songs. As each song is played, veterans representing that branch stand to be recognized.
The pledge of allegiance is another particularly significant moment, he said.
During his remarks, Gandy reflected on the historical significance of Nov. 11, 1918, when the armistice ending the fighting in World War I took effect at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. The date, originally observed as Armistice Day, became Veterans Day in the United States.
He also spoke about the importance of public trust in veterans, noting that people continue to place considerable confidence in those who have served.
He encouraged citizens to educate themselves, vote, exercise their right to peaceful protest and use their freedoms responsibly. Those freedoms, he reminded the audience, were not granted by politicians but secured through the service and sacrifices of military men and women.
HISTORY OF STRUTHERS MEMORIAL
The observance also offered an opportunity to recognize the history of the memorial itself.
Gene Yuhas, 98, of Struthers, was present for the ceremony. Yuhas was instrumental in establishing the Struthers Veterans Memorial Project, an effort that began taking shape in the 1990s.
A veteran of the U.S. Army who served from 1950 to 1952, Yuhas recalled how he and a group of fellow veterans began meeting, planning and raising money to create a permanent place where the community could honor those who served.
Through donations from individuals and businesses, along with fundraising efforts, the project eventually became a reality. The memorial was completed and dedicated in 2008.
His daughter, Bobby McCoy, spoke of her father’s dedication to the project and the tremendous amount of work he put into making it happen. She said he was passionate about ensuring that Struthers would have a lasting tribute to its veterans.
For community member Don Sicafuse, the ceremony was an especially emotional occasion. As he reflected on the sacrifices made by generations of service members, he became overwhelmed by the realization of what others had endured to preserve the freedoms Americans enjoy.
Brown placed the wreath at the memorial as part of the ceremony. A veteran of the Air Force, she noted the impressive level of community support and patriotism that Struthers continues to demonstrate.
She said the organization knows the people of the community well and appreciates their continued efforts to support veterans and remember their service.