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Neosho, Mo. —
Don Wall served 24 years in the Air Force.
He fought in the Korean War, and recently celebrated his 80th birthday.
Wall was one of several veterans in attendance Monday morning at the Neosho High School Veterans Appreciation Day event. As the NHS Air Force JROTC cadets conducted the ceremony, Wall — who came to the event dressed in his full military uniform from the time he served — stood up out of his chair and puffed out his chest with pride.
It was the perfect picture for what NHS Air Force Ret. Major Bryce Langley deemed a perfect ceremony to honor veterans.
The event featured a breakfast served to veterans in attendance, as well as video vignettes honoring veterans that were shown on a big video screen in the NHS cafeteria.
The Neosho High School Wildcat Band and the NHS Cecilian Choir performed the “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” and the highlight of the event was a speech given by Jack Jackson, candidate for Senate Senator in District 26, west of St. Louis.
A retired colonel of the United States Marine Corps, Jackson flew more than 600 combat missions in Vietnam. A highly decorated veteran, Jackson is the recipient of four Distinguished Flying Crosses, 33 Air Medals, Navy Commendation Medal for Heroism and Valor, a host of campaign medals and, most recently, the Legion of Merit for service to his country.
But Jackson didn’t talk much about his experience overseas, but encouraged those in attendance at Monday’s ceremony to recognize the spouses of soldiers.
“If you are a spouse of a veteran, please stand up,” Jackson told members of the crowd. “You deserve as much tribute as we do. During my 13 months in Vietnam, I remember lying down in the cold and wet, but at least I knew I was alive. My wife didn’t know until I came home.”
Jackson later asked veterans of World War II, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom to stand and be recognized, along with those who served during Cold War times.
“To my fellow veterans, I use four words that I think describe the feeling that we have,” Jackson said. “Hurt: sometimes it hurts to remember the fellow soldiers who you served with who perished. Healing: after this takes over, we start to remember the funny things and it is good for the soul. Hope: we as veterans have a hope of sustaining a better life by defending the freedoms that the flag represents. And Honor: that you and I have had in helping to preserve this nation – it was an honor to do that.”
Don Wall served 24 years in the Air Force.
He fought in the Korean War, and recently celebrated his 80th birthday.
Wall was one of several veterans in attendance Monday morning at the Neosho High School Veterans Appreciation Day event. As the NHS Air Force JROTC cadets conducted the ceremony, Wall — who came to the event dressed in his full military uniform from the time he served — stood up out of his chair and puffed out his chest with pride.
It was the perfect picture for what NHS Air Force Ret. Major Bryce Langley deemed a perfect ceremony to honor veterans.
The event featured a breakfast served to veterans in attendance, as well as video vignettes honoring veterans that were shown on a big video screen in the NHS cafeteria.
The Neosho High School Wildcat Band and the NHS Cecilian Choir performed the “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” and the highlight of the event was a speech given by Jack Jackson, candidate for Senate Senator in District 26, west of St. Louis.
A retired colonel of the United States Marine Corps, Jackson flew more than 600 combat missions in Vietnam. A highly decorated veteran, Jackson is the recipient of four Distinguished Flying Crosses, 33 Air Medals, Navy Commendation Medal for Heroism and Valor, a host of campaign medals and, most recently, the Legion of Merit for service to his country.
But Jackson didn’t talk much about his experience overseas, but encouraged those in attendance at Monday’s ceremony to recognize the spouses of soldiers.
“If you are a spouse of a veteran, please stand up,” Jackson told members of the crowd. “You deserve as much tribute as we do. During my 13 months in Vietnam, I remember lying down in the cold and wet, but at least I knew I was alive. My wife didn’t know until I came home.”
Jackson later asked veterans of World War II, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom to stand and be recognized, along with those who served during Cold War times.
“To my fellow veterans, I use four words that I think describe the feeling that we have,” Jackson said. “Hurt: sometimes it hurts to remember the fellow soldiers who you served with who perished. Healing: after this takes over, we start to remember the funny things and it is good for the soul. Hope: we as veterans have a hope of sustaining a better life by defending the freedoms that the flag represents. And Honor: that you and I have had in helping to preserve this nation – it was an honor to do that.”
Jackson was called back to active duty for Desert Shield where he served as a harrier instructor pilot.
Jackson became a test pilot at Boeing Company in January 1978. He tested virtually every type of U.S. fighter aircraft as well as two Russian fighters, accumulating over 10,000 flight hours. Jackson was elected to the Missouri House of Representatives in 2002.
Jackson received the “Legislator of the Year Award” from the Missouri Department of Veterans of Foreign Wars in June 2003, 2005 and 2006 and the “Legislator of the Year Award” from the American Legion in 2004. He also received the National Aide-de-Camp award from the National Commander of the National VFW.
At the end of his speech, Jackson asked all of the students in attendance to come and stand near the stage.
“This is what we fought for,” Jackson said, speaking to the veterans in reference to the students. “I challenge (all the students). Some of you will be in the military in the not so distant future, and in whatever you decide to do, serve our country well, for these men and women did not the stripped flag in the mud in vain to preserve our nation, and you will not either.”
Darryl Ostrom, a Neosho resident who is a native from Nebraska, said he enjoyed the ceremony and came to support his granddaughter, who is a freshman with the NHS Air Force JROTC program.
“I thought the school did a great job, and I enjoyed the guest speaker, even though he was a Marine — just joking,” said Army veteran Ostrom. “I spent 20 years in the U.S. Army and retired in 1993. I spent time in Vietnam, and Veterans’ Day reminds me of people with strong enough character to preserve our country and do whatever it takes to preserve our way of life.”
