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Twelve veterans were honored with medals and medallions by way of the Missouri Veterans Recognition Program at Golden Living Center Friday afternoon.
“We are proud to honor our veterans and believe that all veterans should receive recognition for their sacrifice to our country,” said Maj. Michael Brown, administrative officer for the Missouri National Guard’s 203rd Engineer Battalion, who hosted the event.
The awards were given through the Missouri Veterans Recognition Program. The program is traced to an April 23, 1919, act of the Missouri General Assembly. This act authorized the Missouri National Guard adjutant general to procure and present a medal to each member of the National Guard of Missouri who served with a Missouri unit and veterans who served in the armed forces during the Spanish American War, Mexican Border Service or World War I.
The World War II awards program was announced in 2000, allowing every Missouri veteran and spouses of deceased Veterans who honorably served during the period of Dec. 7, 1941, to Dec. 31, 1946, to apply for the award. To date, more than 41,000 World War II awards have been presented.
In 2003, the Korean War Veterans award was authorized for veterans who served either in the United States or overseas from June 27, 1950 to Jan. 31, 1955. In 2006, the Vietnam War award was authorized for veterans who served from Feb. 28, 1961, to May 7, 1975.
Lt. Col. Gregory Fritz was the keynote speaker at the event, held in the center’s cafeteria. “As a soldier of this era, I cannot imagine what you have been through,” he told the group, made up of veterans from World War II, Korea and Vietnam.
Fritz said there was something each veteran had in common, no matter where he or she was deployed. That was the question “If not us, who? Who will stand to not only defend our country, but also our way of life?”
The group also honored Seaman First Class William Moore, who died a few months ago. His widow, Phyllis, received the awards in his memory.
Members of the McDonald County High School Army JROTC presented and posted the colors, while “Taps” was played by Seneca High School student Chase Kraft.
Twelve veterans were honored with medals and medallions by way of the Missouri Veterans Recognition Program at Golden Living Center Friday afternoon.
“We are proud to honor our veterans and believe that all veterans should receive recognition for their sacrifice to our country,” said Maj. Michael Brown, administrative officer for the Missouri National Guard’s 203rd Engineer Battalion, who hosted the event.
The awards were given through the Missouri Veterans Recognition Program. The program is traced to an April 23, 1919, act of the Missouri General Assembly. This act authorized the Missouri National Guard adjutant general to procure and present a medal to each member of the National Guard of Missouri who served with a Missouri unit and veterans who served in the armed forces during the Spanish American War, Mexican Border Service or World War I.
The World War II awards program was announced in 2000, allowing every Missouri veteran and spouses of deceased Veterans who honorably served during the period of Dec. 7, 1941, to Dec. 31, 1946, to apply for the award. To date, more than 41,000 World War II awards have been presented.
In 2003, the Korean War Veterans award was authorized for veterans who served either in the United States or overseas from June 27, 1950 to Jan. 31, 1955. In 2006, the Vietnam War award was authorized for veterans who served from Feb. 28, 1961, to May 7, 1975.
Lt. Col. Gregory Fritz was the keynote speaker at the event, held in the center’s cafeteria. “As a soldier of this era, I cannot imagine what you have been through,” he told the group, made up of veterans from World War II, Korea and Vietnam.
Fritz said there was something each veteran had in common, no matter where he or she was deployed. That was the question “If not us, who? Who will stand to not only defend our country, but also our way of life?”
The group also honored Seaman First Class William Moore, who died a few months ago. His widow, Phyllis, received the awards in his memory.
Members of the McDonald County High School Army JROTC presented and posted the colors, while “Taps” was played by Seneca High School student Chase Kraft.
