A simple idea, just a donated sign, really, placed at the in-processing point in the Hancock County jail, asking if you are a veteran, has started a dream come true for Cameron Mayes.
Cameron, an Army veteran himself, is one of our Hancock County probation officers. That sign, donated by longtime veteran advocate Ron Ordelheide, is the first step on the journey for a Veteran’s Court here. The results — 15 veterans now identified and many receiving assistance from the veteran’s resource community — was Cameron’s brainchild. It is why he received the Law Enforcement Officer of the Year award from The Dale Kuhn American Legion Post 119.
At a recent meeting with Bob Workman, our county veteran’s service officer, Ceil Hanley and Chelsea Thompson, two excellent and dedicated VA employees; Mayes and I; and the county took another step forward in serving those who served.
A Veteran’s Court, established as a way to provide mentoring and accountability for veterans, may be on the horizon. Thompson spoke of the excellent program offered in Montgomery County, and how it makes such a difference there, and it may turn out to be the model Hancock County uses. Also identified was the need for local landlords who would be willing to work with Vets. Most telling was the mention by both VA employees on how Hancock County agencies work well together, from Angie Lyon at the Hope House providing assistance in locating housing to the cooperation from Jail Commander Keith Oliver, and of course, the probation department.
Hancock County will need to find veterans willing to volunteer as mentors if we are to succeed in this project. Since Hancock County has a higher percentage of veterans than most Indiana counties (over 10%), I am hopeful the volunteer roster will fill. If you are interested, reach out to me, and I will compile that list.
The veteran community is certainly coming together well. Post 119, the American Legion Post in Greenfield, regularly has around 40 vets and sons of veterans show up at the monthly meeting. That is almost unheard of in this day of diminishing volunteerism. Their focus is on community support. They will proudly stand, for example, alongside the Riley Festival’s Parade of Flowers as additional security for our community’s most precious asset, our children.
The Greenfield Honor Guard provides our Color Guard and Burial Detail for ceremonies and veteran funerals, and as we lose more and more of our World War II and Korean vets, their services are often required. Be sure and thank those men when you see them, as they take great pride in honoring our vets.
New leadership is on the board for the Hancock County Veteran’s Park in downtown Greenfield, with Legion Commander Tom Miller joining and Jerry Bean assuming the role as president. The trees that were dying have been replaced; a new round of fundraising for its upkeep has been developed, and recently the Greenfield High School class of 1964 made a significant contribution. As Christmas approaches, now is a good time to honor your family’s service-people with a commemorative brick, available from Bob Workman in the Memorial Building.
The Legion, the Honor Guard and the VFW will also soon memorialize PFC Michael Terry, killed in Vietnam 50 years ago on Oct 12th. The ceremony takes place at another important site for our Veterans, the Vietnam Park at Davis Road and State Road 9, built by the Vietnam vets themselves, and cared for lovingly by Jimmy Sweet and his crew at Park Cemetery. Please plan on joining us to pay tribute to this fallen hero at 6 o’clock. You will listen to one of our wonderful volunteer buglers, Perry Flaugh, play “Taps,” and when the Honor Guard fires their salute, you will be moved. You will walk away proud to honor his sacrifice and be encouraged that the new generation of veterans still serves our community.
Veterans Court could give us a tool to watch for men and women who have issues that are service-related. It is not for special treatment. If anything, it gets peers involved who hold our brothers-in-arms to a higher standard, a standard paid for in blood by men like PFC Terry who have gone before. The motto of our Legion Post is “Still Serving America.” We take this seriously.
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