Veterans Day Ceremony Honors Service Amid Snow
On November 11, community members, including many veterans, gathered at the snow-covered Chardon Square gazebo for the annual Veterans Day ceremony. The event, hosted by Chardon Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6519 and Chardon American Legion Post 167, took place despite snowfall, showing strong community support.
Honoring Those Who Served
Michele Pemberton, Geauga County Veterans Services director, welcomed attendees with hot coffee and donuts before the ceremony. She emphasized the importance of the day:
“Veterans Day is a day to thank those who served this beautiful country.”
Pemberton recalled her early experience giving a Veterans Day speech in freezing weather, saying:
“The community stands shoulder to shoulder, regardless of weather. As soldiers, we are trained to adapt, so we ‘suck it up and accomplish the mission.’”
Master of Ceremonies’ Military Journey
Steve Oluic, Chardon VFW quartermaster and master of ceremonies, shared his background. He developed an interest in Army ROTC during his last two years at Case Western Reserve University. After graduating, he was commissioned as a U.S. Army officer.
Now in his 19th year of service, Oluic was assigned by the Army to serve as an assistant professor of geography at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Later, he became assistant dean of strategy and policy.
Summary
The Veterans Day ceremony in Chardon demonstrated unwavering respect for military service, highlighting dedication both in adverse weather and lifelong commitment to duty.
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