The ceremony included a Salute to the Colors by Amvets Post #2 Color Guard, and student Lilly Powers of Hamilton High School singing “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “Amazing Grace.”
Hamilton Mayor Pat Moeller told the group while he’s not a veteran, many of his family members are.
“I didn’t see what you saw, or feel what you felt, and from the bottom of my free heart I thank you,” Moeller said.
Butler County Commissioner Charles Furmon presented a proclamation.
“We the people of this great county rely on our veterans to protect us,” he said before reading the proclamation, which will hang in the Butler County Veterans Service Commission.
“Young and old, rich and poor, black and white and all categories in between have served for us and sacrificed their tomorrows so we could have our todays,” Furmon read.
Sheriff Richard K. Jones, who served from 1973-75, told the crowd stories. He spoke of the late Lt. Commander Michael Christian of the U.S. Navy, a Vietnam War prisoner of war. Christian had sewn together by pine needles a small American flag made of rags, bamboo and ink to help cheer up the captive soldiers, he said.
“He was badly beaten in the night and took weeks to heal,” Jones said. “You know what he did? He started making another flag. That’s brave.”
The Amvets Post #2 Color Guard also made a 21 Gun Salute — to which Fe Frierdich in the audience jumped in shock while covering her mouth.
“My husband is a retired veteran and I like to see what’s going on,” Frierdich said. “I want to find out what’s really happening during war. I liked Richard Jones’ stories.”
Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2179 or hpoturalski@coxohio.com.
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