Veterans A salute to our
Local veteran award in its third year Ceremony returns after COVID-19 cancellation By Heath Harrison
T
he Lawrence County Veteran of the Year award began in 2019, but, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, last year’s ceremony was called off. So, at last week’s event, two local veterans were honored to make up for the lost year. Martin Jackson was named as 2020’s recipient, while Dean Palmer was named for this year. The two follow Matthew Jenkins, who was honored in 2019 as the inaugural Lawrence County veteran of the Year. To give an idea of the community spirit of the award, Jenkins, a Chesapeake native, served in the U.S. Army from 2005-2010 and the National Guard from 2011-2016. He has also been assistant chief of the Aid Township Volunteer Fire Department, where he has worked with the junior firefighters and local schools on fire safety, and has served as vice president of the Lawrence County Fireman’s Association, as chaplain and on the honor guard for the Symmes Valley Veterans, VFW and an advisor for the Arabia AllStars 4-H Club. The award came about after Lawrence County Commission president DeAnna Holliday and fellow commissioner Freddie Hayes Jr. met with Tim Carpenter, who serves as Lawrence County’s Veterans Services officer. “It was something we always wanted to do,” Holliday told The Tribune last year, noting that the inspiration followed a state honor for a local veteran. “And then, when Dean Cooper was named to the Veterans Hall of Fame for the State of Ohio, we realized just how
many amazing veterans we have here in the county.” Cooper, an Army veteran, was among 20 chosen from 199 nominations to the state in 2018. The Lawrence County Veterans Hall of Fame recognizes Lawrence County veteran residents who have served with distinction, honor and exemplary service while in the military or a veteran who has after service continued to contribute to their communities, state and nation in an exemplary manner. “It’s a wonderful program,” Lou Pyles, who served on the Veteran of the Year committee, said. “People know that a lot of veterans continue to give to their communities when they return from service.” She said the award is based on the recipient’s total service record. These contributions can be in the areas of military service, professional achievements, civic or public service, volunteerism, veterans’ advocacy or other significant achievements over the life of the nominee. Those who are past or current Lawrence County residents, have received an “Honorable” discharge for all periods of service and are of good moral character are eligible. Copies of the nomination form can also be emailed, faxed or mailed from Carpenter, of the Lawrence County Office of Veterans Service by contacting them through Facebook, calling 740-533-4328 or emailing tcarpenter@lawrenceoh.com.
LEFT: Martin Jackson is the 2020 Lawrence County Veterans of the Year. RIGHT: Dean Palmer is the 2021 Lawrence County Veteran of the Year. (The Ironton Tribune | Heath Harrison)
W E D N E S D AY, N O V E M B E R 1 0 , 2 0 2 1
2B
THE TRIBUNE
Four decades of serving
VETERANS DAY
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2021
Morris has been working in the Lawrence County Veteran’s Service Office since 1977 By Mark Shaffer Some people end up where they are meant to be, like Lottie Morris, who has spent 43 years in the Lawrence County Veteran’s Service Office in the courthouse. “I started in November of 1977,” said Morris, who is the officer manager. She was part of a job placement program and was placed as a cook at the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office and it was a bit of an adjustment. “I had only cooked for two people in my life, so you can imagine how that was,” she said. She was then placed as a clerk for the Foster Grandparent program and caught the attention of the Lawrence County Veterans Service Officer Bob Griffiths. “He had asked if I could transfer to the Veteran’s Office. I wanted to come,” Morris said. “And after the transfer, I’ve been here ever since.” After graduating high school in Silver Springs, Maryland, she returned to the Ironton area and went to Marshall University and got an Associate Degree in paralegal and legal aid studies with an intention of a career in law. Then she went to Ohio University and got a Bachelor’s Degree in technical and applied studies with a minor in communication. It turns out that the
16
YEARS BACKED BY THE SEAL
classes really helped prepare her for the job at the Lawrence County Veteran’s Service Office. “It’s all things I needed for my job. You really have to understand VA law, it is very complex” Morris said. “So what I wanted to do in my younger days, I’ve tied it into this job.” And she said it is a good job and that is why she has been there so long. “I always say that if you like what you do, if you love what you do, you’ll stay with it,” Morris said. “Everybody always asks when I’m going to retire. You retire when you don’t like it anymore. If things get a little rough, I take a day off. But I thank God for my job and to be in a position to help people. You never know what you are going to face each day.” She said many people don’t know that the Lawrence County Veteran’s Services exists or what services they offer. “And those that do know we exist, don’t have a clue as to what we do,” Morris said, with a laugh. It is Morris’ job to help veterans, their widow or their dependents navigate through the maze of paperwork that the VA and other departments need so they can get help. And that is where her education comes in, since it gets
Office manager Lottie Morris has been working at the Lawrence County Veteran’s Service Office since 1977. She said she loves helping veterans or their widows or their dependents work through the maze of paperwork so that they get the benefits they are entitled to. (The Ironton Tribune | Mark Shaffer) complicated. The office is a county office, paid for by county funds, but governed by the Ohio Revised Code, and is set up to help veterans deal with federal paperwork. “There are a lot of laws that are required and they change daily,” Morris said. “So, a veteran may come in because they are entitled to military retirement and VA services, but they may also qualify for services through Social Security. “We push VA services, because they are veterans and they are entitled to it,” she said. They also help homeless veterans by finding housing and they also have a financial assistance program for Lawrence County veterans. But no matter how complex it gets, “I’ve enjoyed this job,” Morris said. “I enjoy working with veterans’ widows. It has been interesting to see.” Many times, the widow needs help because her husband took care of paying the bills and she just got money for groceries and for the kids. “That’s all she knew about and now the veteran is deceased and she doesn’t know what to do. We have been able to sit down with them and walk them through certain things and make sure they aren’t
taken advantage of,” Morris said. “And that is important. We want our veterans and their families to get what they are entitled to.” She said that to that end, the office has been advertising more to say “We are here. We are here for the county, we are here for the veterans,” Morris said. She has high praise for Lawrence County Veterans Service officer Tim Carpenter. “He’s excellent. He doesn’t mind researching and really getting the needs of the veterans,” Morris said. “He has a heart for the veterans.” They have an additional service officer who started a month ago, Teresa Brown, who is going through the training process. “She was hired because of the increase in the workload,” Morris said. “I can do claims and put the basics in the system and then Tim has to finish it up. So, Teresa will help with that.” Morris said that she can’t even guess how many people she has helped over the past four decades.
And she really likes the veterans she has helped. “We have some really good clients and they are grateful, they are appreciative for things we can help out with,” Morris said. “And if we can’t help them, we
make it a point to find out who can help them.” To find out more about Lawrence County Veteran’s Service Office, call 740-532-4327. The office has recently moved and is now on the Fifth Street side of the courthouse.
We support our active military and our veterans! 304 S. Third St. • Ironton, Ohio
(740) 532-5954
We specialize in size, width and fit. Orthopedic Shoe Technicians.
BOARD-CERTIFIED PEDORTHIST ON STAFF. Open Mondays ‘til 6pm; Tues-Sat 9-5, Always Closed Sunday LISTED ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
USE UNGER’S CONVENIENT LAYAWAY PLAN!
CLOG-FREE GUARANTEED*
Call today for a free estimate!
(855) 811-1330 • Seamless, one-piece system, keeps out leaves, debris & more. • Eliminates the risk of falling off a ladder to clean clogged gutters. • Durable, all-weather tested system.
$99
Installation on a Complete LeafGuard System! DOES NOT INCLUDE COST OF MATERIAL. EXPIRES 12/31/2021.
* Guaranteed not to clog for as long as you own your home, or we will clean your gutters for free.
Liberty Bank Lawrence County’s Bank Since 1896
740-532-2856 Ironton
740-886-9491
www.libbk.com
Proctorville Member FDIC
NATIONAL HOSPICE AND PALLIATIVE CARE MONTH
Providing the care you deserve….. …..and the respect you have earned. All Veterans are entitled to receive support for serious and life-limiting illnesses. Help is available by calling…….
606-329-1890 800-926-6184 www.chospice.org
VETERANS DAY
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2021
THE TRIBUNE
3B
Continuing a tradition Wreaths Across America pays tribute to vets buried at Woodland Cemtery By Heath Harrison Next month, volunteers will honor veterans buried at Woodland Cemetery with a tradition that has been ongoing in Lawrence County for several years now. Wreaths Across America is an effort to place a fresh evergreen wreath, with red velvet ribbon, on each grave at the cemetery’s Veteran’s Hill and Civil War section. It has its roots in a national effort, which began in 1992, when the Worchester Wreath Company, of Harrington Maine, found themselves with a surplus of wreaths at the end of the holiday season. Owner Morrill Worcester made arrangements for the wreaths to be placed on military graves in the older sections of Arlington National Cemetery, outside Washington, D.C. This became an annual tradition and, in 2005, a photo of the wreaths in the snow appeared on the Internet and went viral. Since then, local groups across the country have organized similar campaigns for cemeteries in their areas. In 2007, Wreaths Across America was established as a nonprofit organization and by 2008, ceremonies took place at 300 locations in every state, Puerto Rico and in overseas cemeteries. Wreaths Across America in Lawrence County began in 2011, when locals Linda Dalton and Juanita Southers saw the Arlington event and were so moved that they contacted the national group and became local coordinators to do the same for graves at Woodland. With no political or religious agenda, the group wanted to honor all who served who were buried in the cemetery. Southers and Dalton began explaining the project to locals and, in the early years, funds were raised and wreaths were purchased for as many of the graves
as possible, with a ceremony taking place each year when they were laid in midDecember. The wreaths were left up for 30 days through the holiday season. In addition to honoring the veterans, Southers said it brought much-needed color in the winter months. “This cemetery is so beautiful in the summer, but lays desolate in the winter,” she told The Ironton Tribune in 2015. “These wreaths make it beautiful during the holidays.” She explained the meaning behind their mission. “This brings to the forefront that we didn’t get all these freedoms just because they are there,” Southers said. “We have them because lots of people gave their lives that we might have them.” Southers and Dalton oversaw the local group until Southers death in July 2019. That year, Laura Brown took over as the local organizer, with Dalton continuing to advise her. Brown, who along with her sister, Sally Ingles, had worked with Brown and Dalton, continued fundraising and, that winter, they were able to purchase enough wreaths for each of the 1,100 graves on the veterans hill. “That was something Juanita always wanted to do, but never got enough,” she said, adding the group dedicated the feat to her memory. “She always said, ‘If I could look at the hill and see a wreath on every grave, I’d be satisfied.’” Brown said the group was able to cover all the graves on the hill in 2020 as well, and
Above: Volunteers put wreaths by all 1,110 veterans’ headstones in the Soldiers Plot at Woodland Cemetery as part of the annual Wreaths Across America event in 2020. Below: A man stands and reflects after putting a wreath on a veteran’s headstone as part of the 2020 Wreaths Across America event. (The Ironton Tribune | Mark Shaffer)
has been able to cover a good portion of the Civil War section the past two years. “I hope she is looking down and seeing it,” she said of Southers. Brown said in addition to her sister, who lives in Florida and comes in for the holidays to assist, she receives a great deal of help from Lou Pyles, of the Ironton-Lawrence County Memorial Day Parade Committee, and Tim Carpenter, veterans service officer for the county, who help out with fundraising and the laying of the wreaths. She said the group will again place them on graves in a ceremony this year at noon on Saturday, Dec. 18. Anyone who would like to assist in the effort
LAMBERT LAW OFFICE, LLC Lambert Bldg. • 215 S. 4th St. • P.O. Box 725 • Ironton, Ohio
Randall L. Lambert ATTORNEY AT LAW
Office: (740) 532-4333 Fax: (740) 532-7341
Email: rlambert@lambert-law.org
KING’S DAUGHTERS & SONS Home For Aged Men and Women 1100 Bath Ave. Ashland, KY Phone:
606.324.0343 Fax: 606.329.1435
PROUDLY WE HONOR OUR VETERANS
may join, she said, and they should show up at the cemetery shortly before noon. In addition, Brown said donations can be made to the group at P.O. Box 183, Ironton, Ohio, 45638. She said wreaths are also for sale for $15 each for individual graves
and can be purchased from the group to be placed on Dec. 18 and after. The group is also fundraising with $1 candy bars, which are for sale at businesses around Ironton. Brown said those who want to purchase them can also call 740-646-2795.
For her third year in charge, Brown said the group is hoping they can cover the entire hillside again this year, as it is what Southers wanted. “And it’s important to cover every grave, because Christmas always meant a lot to veterans,” she said.
4B
VETERANS DAY
THE TRIBUNE
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2021
Instilling values, honoring service Burlington has tradition of Veterans Day program By Heath Harrison This week, many schools in Lawrence County will host programs for Veterans Day, teaching students about the value of service to their country. While events have been scaled down this year due to the COVID19 pandemic, Burlington Elementary School has a tradition of hosting one of the most thorough programs in the county. School librarian Harriet Ramsey has been organizing the event for several years, along with principal Michael Clay and the school’s music teacher, Jodi Bapst. Ramsey said she does it because there is a need to “open the eyes” of children to the opportunities that are out there. She said that service in the military is a path many can take. “We try to do something different,” she said. “Because there are lot of things these kids don’t get to
see or hear about.” Typically, the school invites veterans from the district who sit on stage while children from each grade sing patriotic songs. This is followed by a keynote speaker, whom Ramsey said is recommended to the school. One of the notable speakers was LTC Clydellia PrichardAllen, the first female battalion commander for the Columbus Recruitment Battalion, who spoke in 2015 of her service and specifically addressed the girls among the students. “You go out and make a difference and say, ‘Hey, I can do it just as easy as any of my male counterparts,’” she said. “Take a moment to figure out what you want to do. There’s a higher calling to everyone.” A prayer is read and students also see the proper folding of an American flag, with narration explaining the meaning of each fold. The event concludes
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic limiting events, many schools in the county hosted Veterans Day events each year, paying tribute to those from the community who served. One of the largest is Burlington Elementary School’s annual observance, organized by the school’s librarian, Harriet Ramsey. (The Ironton Tribune | Heath Harrison) with the veterans lining the hall and each grade passes, shaking hands with them and thanking them for their service. Ramsey said the last few years, the event has featured Benjamin Casey, who plays bagpipes. Ramsey said she met him at her husband’s funeral and invited him to come to the school. “They had never heard anything like it,” she said of the students’ reaction. “I watched and their eyes were as wide as moons.” While the school will not be able to host the large assembly because of social distancing guidelines, Ramsey said they will still do an event to honor veterans from the area on Thursday, offering lunch to them. “We’ll be doing that as a drive-through event,” she said.
ABOVE: Members of the U.S. Marine Corps League Detachment #340 fold an American flag during the 2019 program. LEFT: Members of the U.S. Marine Corps League Detachment #340 watch the Veterans Day program. (The Ironton Tribune | Heath Harrison)
This Veterans Day, take a moment to remember those who have served. ©adfinity
LEFT: Burlington Elementary School second grader Zoey Canterbury poses for photos with Ron Canterbury following the school’s Veterans Day assembly in 2019. ABOVE: students shake hands with veterans following the conclusion of the school’s Veterans Day assembly. (The Ironton Tribune | Heath Harrison)
Whether they have made the ultimate sacrifice or are living in your neighborhood, our veterans have helped to make this great country what it is. Today and every day, thank them for their service.
10 0 4 S 7th St • Ironton, OH 45638 (74 0) 532 -214 4 • PhillipsF uner a lHom e .net
WE HAVE HAND SANITIZER, KN-95 and Locally-made cloth masks available!
Proud to be serving our veterans! Sanctuary of the Ohio Valley 2932 S. Fifth St. • Ironton, Ohio
(740) 532-6188
www.sanctuaryseniorliving.com
CBD Oil Products
Stop by and check out our newly remodeled facility! • Respite Services • Physical, occupational and speech therapies • Hospice care • Wound care • Dental, podiatry, optometry and audiology services
• IV Therapy
We accept a variety of insurance plans including:
• Medicare • Humana • VA • Medical Mutual
• Medicaid • Aetna • CareSource • Optum • VA Approved
433507
Our short and long-term patients benefit from:
Two Convenient Locations to Serve YOU
ASHLAND (606) 325-8400
2920 CARTER AVENUE • ASHLAND, KY 41101
SOUTH POINT (740) 377-2677
708 4TH ST. EAST • SOUTH POINT, OH 45680
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2021
VETERANS DAY
THE TRIBUNE
5B
Two Lawrence Countians had noteworthy service in World War I Conflict ended with Armistice Day, forerunner of Veterans Day Staff Report In 1954, the U.S. Congress established Nov. 11 as Veterans Day, a federal holiday honoring those who have served in the nation’s armed forces. This was a modification of the previous Armistice Day observation, which marked the end of World War I, when hostilities ended on “the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month” of the year. As has been the case with many of the conflicts the nation has seen, a great number of soldiers from Lawrence County took part in that “war to end all wars,” and two of those veterans had remarkable records of service that are still being honored to this day. Col. William C. Lambert was a fighter pilot who was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and was the second highest scoring flying ace in World War I. Lambert got his interest in flying from watching the turkeys on his family farm. His interest in flying was furthered by a pilot who was visiting Ironton in 1910 or so in his Wright biplane. During World War I, Lambert left Ironton to go to join the British Royal Flying Corps in 1917. He eventually registered 18 air-to-air victories in 1918. He is believed to be the second-ranked Ace pilot of the war, only eight victories behind fellow Ohioan pilot Eddie Rickenbacker. When World War II started, Lambert enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and remained with the service until his retirement in 1954 as a lieutenant colonel. In 1973, he published “Combat Report,” a book that covered his experiences as a war pilot. Lambert, who died in 1982, is honored with the William C. Lambert Museum, a collection of artifacts from his career, along with other military items, located in the rear of the first floor of the Ironton City Center. Created in 2018, the museum and archive is designed to function as a repository for historical artifacts and records of a military
LAMBERT
Lous‘
GILFILLAN
STYLE SHOP
Wed. & Thurs. by appointment only.
The William C. Lambert Museum and Archive is located on the first floor of the Ironton City Center.
nature relating to the life of Lambert and all military veterans of Lawrence County and the Nation. The mission is to document, preserve and explain the role and legacy of those veterans who shaped the national experience so that citizens will understand “the price of freedom and be inspired by their example.” And, in recent years, the remarkable story of another veteran of the war has come into prominence. Dean Gilfillan, of Ironton, attended Ironton High School and Phillips Military Academy and graduated from Yale University and, in 1917, he was commissioned as a captain in the Coast Artillery Corps. At age 27, Gilfillan applied for the very first American tank school, commanded by Col. George S. Patton. At the time, the tank was new and state of the art, so only the best and brightest were considered for the program, the American Tank Corps were tested at
the Battle of Argonne Forest in northeastern France on Sept. 26, 1918, where they were met with strong resistance from German forces. Cut off from all support, the American tanks and Gilfillan stood their ground. Gilfillan whirled his tank around and took out two machine gun nests of the enemy, then the advancing German infantry. With his tank hit by artillery shells and blood streaming down his face, Gilfillan continued to fight until fire neared his gas tank and threatened an explosion. He leaped from the vehicle in time to escape the explosion, but was wounded by shrapnel from a bursting enemy shell. He remained at his post, pistol in hand, until an officer ran up to him to relieve him of command. He was awarded the Croix de Guerre from France, that nation’s highest military decoration, and on March 19, 1919, he received the Distinguished Service Cross, presented to him by John J. Pershing, com-
mander of the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) on the Western Front in World War I. That same year, Ironton’s first professional football team was organized and took on the name “Tanks” in honor of Gilfillan and other World War I tank soldiers. This year, a division of the Ironton-Lawrence County Memorial Day Parade was named in honor of Gilfillan, while he was also added as a character in the Lawrence County Museum’s annual historic walk at Woodland Cemetery.
Lou Pyles - Owner 2526 S. Fifth St. • Ironton, Ohio 45638
740-533-7104
We honor our veterans!
O’Keefe-Baker Funeral Home 1108 S. Sixth St. Ironton, Ohio 532-0454 John D. Baker Director/Owner
Our Family Serving Your Family Since 1871
“Caring Professionals, Caring for our Community” Skilled Nursing • Home Health Aides Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapy Passport
We honor our veterans! 209 Marion Pike Coal Grove, Ohio 45638 Phone: (740) 534-9908 Fax: (740) 534-9918 Toll Free: (866) 455-7104
315 Washington St. Suite 122, Oak Hill, OH 45659 Phone: (740) 988-3000 Toll Free: (877) 455-7104
6B
VETERANS DAY
THE TRIBUNE
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2021
SOMC Ironton Family Health Center
Roland Benton, MD Urgent Care
Bryan Fuller, MD Urgent Care
Jim Meadows, MD Family Practice
Kristie Johnson APRN, FNP-C Family Practice
Offering a variety of services including »
Urgent Care
»
Outpatient Lab
»
Family Practice
»
Occupational Medicine
»
CT Scan
»
EKG
»
Outpatient X-rays
Hours Urgent Care, CT Scan, X-ray, Lab Mon - Fri from 8 am - 8 pm Sat - Sun from 9 am - 5 pm
Family Practice Mon - Fri from 8 am - 6 pm
SOMC Ironton Family Health Center 1015 East Ring Road | Ironton, OH (740) 534-9830 www.somc.org