Photo By Sara Seymour | (L-R): Staff Sgt. Jordan Chatman, Master Sgt. Justin Smith, Tech. Sgt. Carl Hatala,...... read more read more
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ALPENA, Mich. – Airmen from Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center, Mich. gave back to veterans of prior era and conflicts during a special Veterans Day recognition and pinning event at Turning Brook Retirement Living Center, Friday, Nov. 9, 2018.
After a posting of colors by the Alpena CRTC color guard, all residents of the center who had served in the U.S. military were recognized with a certificate and commemorative pin.
Master Sgt. Justin Smith, electrical power production specialist at the CRTC, was master of ceremonies and keynote speaker for the event. In August, Smith was recognized as the Michigan Air National Guard's Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year.
“It’s important to echo how we got to be the great country we are today, and the great service that people have contributed to that,” said Smith. “We’re honored to put the uniform on every day, but we’re also honored to pay tribute to these veterans who wore the uniform at another point in their lives in a special way.”
After the event, staff at Turning Brook said the fact that currently-serving members of the U.S. military were taking time to honor veterans would surely mean much to residents of the center.
“I think it means a lot to them and this may help them feel like they’re a special person because of their time in the military,” said Julie Stricker, life enrichment coordinator at Turning Brook. “I think it also means a lot to our residents because they grew up during a time where honoring and talking about their country was very much a part of their lives and it’s still strong in their memories.”
Although more than half a dozen veterans were honored, they were not the only ones moved by the ceremony.
Resident Joan Powers said that she met her husband, an Air Force veteran, just after his return from the Korean War.
“It’s good that we recognize the service of our countrymen and women because they’ve protected our soil,” said Powers. “When we sing God Bless America, we need to sing it with all our hearts.”
Smith ended his remarks with a quote from President John F. Kennedy:
“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”
Kennedy's words not only serve as a compass of future remembrances of our nation's veterans, but as a worthy description of the gratitude expressed by airmen at Turning Brook during this unique event.
| Date Taken: | 11.11.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 11.15.2018 10:08 |
| Story ID: | 300079 |
| Location: | ALPENA, MICHIGAN, US |
| Web Views: | 77 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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