Veterans remembered, honored

MT. PLEASANT - For Deb Marley, this year is the first Veterans Day she's celebrating since losing both her husband and father, who both served in the U.S. armed forces.

'It's really emotional, seeing some of the things on television,” she said.

Marley and her mother were part of a group of 50 residents that attended the Mt. Pleasant Veterans Day program on Wednesday morning at the Veterans Hall in town.

'My husband served in the Vietnam War … he wouldn't talk about it,” she said.

'That's why celebrating is important - because we will never understand what they've been through and the sacrifices they made,” Marley added.

The annual program, hosted jointly by Veterans of Foreign Affairs and American Legion posts from across Henry County, invited local veterans to speak about their experiences and what Veterans Day means to them.

Dave McGregor, commander of the New London VFW recalled getting onto a bus to Des Moines after enlisting as a teenager straight out of high school.

'I was the oldest of seven. Back then, I didn't think of it much, but I wonder what my parents thought as they sent their oldest off to war,” he said.

McGregor's father served in the Army Air Forces in World War II.

'I wish I had asked my parents,” he said.

McGregor reminded veterans to wear their uniforms proudly in the community and to continue to uphold the oath to defend the Constitution of the United States.

Dean King, commander of the Mt. Pleasant American Legion and an organizer of the program, said in his address that in a time of great division and with people across the country split in reaction to the results of the most recent election, it is important to remember the strength of the nation comes from its ability to 'espouse our differences reasonably.”

'I wanted everybody to know that as we face these times, we can still get along,” he said.

Larry Menke, a local veteran who has lived in Mt. Pleasant for 20 years and served in the Marine Corps from 1981 to 1987, said he wanted to attend the program because it was part of what he grew up with.

'It's about honor and respect,” he said.

With the crowd a little thinner than years past due to the pandemic, Menke said he wished there were more participation for events and groups celebrating and supporting veterans.

'It's for the local vets that served before me. It's not about myself, it's about people before me,” he said.

On Wednesday afternoon, Mt. Pleasant community members gathered again at Iowa Wesleyan University for a Veterans Day program at the school's flagpole.

Ken Madden, a 1971 graduate of the school, who served 31 years in the military and was named a colonel in 1996, gave a short address. The university's choir performed for students and faculty members who gathered.

Madden, who comes from a military family, said he hopes the country and community 'continues to gather around the flag and celebrate Veterans Day,” in honor of all those who have served and continue to serve.

Dawn Sines, a graduate of the school who currently lives in New London and is a Navy veteran, was invited to participate in the event.

'I think it's important for students to experience and hear stories and hear reasons why people continue to serve,” she said of why she felt the program was important.

University Provost DeWayne Frazier noted the university has a rich history of serving students who are also veterans or family members of veterans. Most recently, the university opened a military and veterans resource center and currently serves 25 students who are on scholarships or receive services because of a military association.

'We have a strong tradition here of supporting veterans and the U.S. military. It's important to honor the people who have fought for our freedoms,” Frazier said.