Memorial honors soldiers from recent wars

BY RYAN BERRY 

MANAGING EDITOR 

GREENVILLE – The Darke County Veterans Service Commission joined with VFW Post #7262 to dedicate a memorial honoring soldiers from wars in the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan and Iraq. The monument is located in Veterans Park, adjacent to VFW Post 7262 on Ohio Street, Greenville.

Speakers at the event included Commander Norm Fullerton, American Legion Post #140, Commander Robert Foster, Disabled American Veterans Chapter #57, and Commander Scott Reed, VFW Post 7262. The featured speaker was Past Commander VFW Department of Ohio Leon Johnson.

Commander Johnson, a Vietnam veteran, encouraged veterans of past wars to help veterans of current and future wars. After returning from Vietnam he was helped by those that had fought in World War II and Korea. He said, “I found I wasn’t as screwed up as I thought I was.” He told of how he had to visit the Vietnam Memoriam three times before he could view the entire monument. He would see the names of people he served with that had died and couldn’t go any further. With the assistance of another veteran, he was finally able to make it to the end.

Also participating in the program were the Greenville Color, Navy Junior ROTC, Darke County Veterans Service Officer Debra Kaiser and Pastor Sam Hoeflich.

Past Commander VFW Department of Ohio Leon Johnson spoke at the dedication ceremony of a memorial honoring soldiers in wars in the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan and Iraq.