SIDNEY — From the letters they wrote to the county’s veterans, to the pennies they donated to help send the veterans to Washington, D.C., the students in the local schools did what they could to support the Shelby County Vets to D.C. committee.
On Wednesday night, nine students received a thank you for their support in the form of a $500 scholarship during a dinner held at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post. Receiving scholarships were Carter Huelskamp, Anna High School; Spencer Hina, Fairlawn High School; Jacob Kitzmiller, Fort Loramie High School; Jenna Winner, Houston High School; Pauline Meyer, Jackson Center High School; Erin Gaerke, Russia High School; Connor Thobe, Lehman Catholic High School; Christian Academy School, Emmanuel Ball; and Rachel Leach, Sidney High School.
After 11 trips to D.C., taking 1,004 World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War veterans, caregivers and volunteers, the committee voted to not go on any more trips as all the veterans who were able to travel had gone on the trip.
With the money remaining in the fund, the committee opted to award a one-time $500 scholarship to one student from each of the school districts in the county.
“This has been a great program to honor our veterans,” said Mike Bennett, committee co-chair. “All of the veterans got letters from you and they have said this was the most treasured thing they received. Elementary, junior high and high school students from all over the county wrote letters.”
Bennett said the committee will continue on and will be doing various projects associated with veterans such as Listen to a Vet and Wreaths Across America.
Each student, said Bennett, had a choice of three essay questions to pick from for the scholarship process.
The first essay question was “The motto of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point is ‘Duty, Honor, Country’.” If you have or had a veteran in your family or know of a veteran, how have these words and that veteran’s life influenced you?
The second question dealt with the saying “All gave some, Some gave all.” What is the greatest thing a vet has given you?
Question three dealt with veterans saying they were only doing their job. How would you tell a veteran that he/she did so much more than just their job?
Huelskamp answered the question about “Duty, Honor, Country.” He said his family influence was his grandfather, George.
“Grandpa George was a walking, talking reminder of the phrase ‘Duty, Honor, Country’ every day of his life,” wrote Huelskamp. “Grandpa showed us that there was honor in doing a good job, a job that you could be proud of at the end of the day.”
His grandpa, Huelskamp continued, taught his family to be proud of their country and the men and women who fought for their freedoms.
“If I am fortunate enough to have children, I will pass on to them these values, the values, the values of Grandpa George … the values of such a wise and dedicated veteran.”
Hina wrote his essay on “All gave some, Some gave all.”
“The greatest things veterans have given me is security and freedom,” write Hina. “They put their lives on the line to do that and there is no greater sacrifice than that.”
Hina said he honors their sacrifice every time he votes, by staying vigilant on political issues and getting “as much as I can out of my education.”
If he could meet one veteran, wrote Hina, it would be George Washington. He said he’d like to tank him for everything he did for us.
“I would like to ask him what his thoughts were during those battles so I would know what he planned for future generations.”
Kitzmiller wrote his essay “Only did my job.”
“It is true, many vets say they only did their job … but it is such a big job,” said Kitzmiller. “It is a job that requires them to put their duties before their families, and possibly, even their own life.
Kitzmiller said as he looks around Fort Loramie, he knows it is an “honor and a privilege to be raised in such a wonderful community.” He has all the veterans to thank for that.
Kitzmiller’s goal in life is to become a history/government teacher so he can “pass on the legacy of all our veterans.”
Winner also wrote on “All gave some, Some gave all.” She said her inspiration is her grandfather, who has given her a lot to think about “when it comes to understanding what freedom is and how important it really is to all of us.”
Both of her grandfathers — one who served in the Korean War and the other who served in the Vietnam War — have taught her to appreciate the freedom she has.
Meyer, who wrote on “Only did my job” wrote “having others heap appreciation on vets for what they did for the country is not natural to them, but they are deserving of these praises.
“Just doing your job means your job description might read as such: friend, doctor, coach, psychologist, warrior, chaplain, nurse — all wrapped up in one package. You do so much more than that, and our rewards are so much more.”
Gaerke also wrote about “All gave some, Some gave all” and says the greatest gift a veteran has given her is her freedom. She said her grandfather is her inspiration. Her grandfather didn’t now about what he gave, but what his buddies gave.
“This is another way we can learn about the sacrifices of veterans,” she wrote, “by listening to them and passing on their lessons.”
Her parents, she wrote, taught her from an early age to understand what was given to her and appreciate it. She has headed up and served on many veteran appreciation events in her community.
“We must always thank the All that gave some, and mourn the Some that gave all,” wrote Gaerke.
Thobe wrote in his essay that those who lived by the phrase “All gave some, Some gave all” are the reason why this country exists today. Because of these veterans, everyone has freedoms, such as freedom of religion, which is important to him.
Thobe said if he could meet any veteran, he would like to meet a friend of accounting teacher who was killed in Vietnam so he could tell him what a hero he is.
“All gave some, Some gave all” is also what Ball wrote about. He said freedom is the biggest gift the veterans gave to the American people.
“It is our duty to become good citizens and help to secure these freedoms for all,” wrote Ball.
He said he is inspired by his father, who served in the U.S. Navy for more than 20 years.
“It is important to preserve veterans’s legacies by making sure relatives and future generations know them and their stories,” wrote Ball.
Leach wrote about “Duty, Honor, Country” in her essay. With those three words, lives were changed, freedoms won and handed down and countries have been saved.
“They are guides meant to direct your life,” she wrote.
Her inspiration comes from her grandfather and father, who are both veterans. They taught her that these words and the principals behind them can affect peoples lives in a positive way.
