As your heart melts, when a newborn smiles up at you and you think of the days in the coming years of good times and struggles, there is one thought that should be very comforting to us all, that we are very blessed to reside in the greatest nation on planet earth, the United States of America. A country that has been defended and protected for over 248 years by its own people—military and allies—a mixed population who will not succumb to tyranny or surrender freedom and always provide the safest of harbors for our future generations. 

Where would we be today without our tried and true military branches and Veteran’s Service Organizations? The American Legion Post 9, The VFW Post 4999, The Am Vets Post 77 and those who serve on The Honor Guard from each—those men and women who choose to honor and respect each comrade who came before them, from their length of service to their final resting place and beyond, with a 21 gun salute and prayers from their Chaplain showing appreciation and thanks for service to our country. It can not be said enough that all gave some but some gave all and real heroes don’t wear capes, they wear uniforms, badges, and dog tags. 

One of our hometown’s Honor Guard is former Private 1st class Craig Fetzer, U.S. Marine Corp, born July 21, 1942. He enlisted in 1960 and received Advanced Infantry Training at Camp Pendleton in California. Studied radio communication with tours in Okinawa, Japan and has been an American Legion member for 39 years. He was discharged in July of 1964. 

From The VFW Post 4999 is former Specialist 4 Jerry Mitchell U.S. Army. He graduated from Chillicothe High in 1963 and was drafted in 1965. Boot Camp for Jerry was at Fort Knox, Kentucky and Military Police advanced training was at Fort Gordon, Georgia. He then helped with security at Sandia Air Base in Albuquerque New Mexico. He was discharged in June of 1967 and says we must pay tribute to the ones who served before us. 

Another Honor Guard member is former Specialist 5 Terry Claycomb U.S. Army. A graduate of Chillicothe High, he enlisted in 1968 with Boot Camp at Fort Polk, Louisiana and trained for heavy equipment operations at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri with the 46th Engineer Battalion. In Vietnam, he helped to clear terrains for roadways and convoys. Terry says we should help pay back to those who paved the path for us to follow. 

Jeff Anderson is the present Commander of the Louie Malone Am Vets Post 77. Jeff was injured in boot camp training with a significant back mishap at Fort Lewis, Washington in 1971 and was discharged in October. But that has not stopped him from being a pivotal advocate in many veterans’ functions. He is on the Honor Guard and helps coordinate and execute many vital tasks. 

Former E-3 U.S. Army and graduate from Illini Bluffs High, Kim Corrington knew as a sophomore she wanted to enlist in the Army. She is the current Commander of American Legion Post 9 in Chillicothe and spent boot camp at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. She also did Advanced Infantry Training at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. She was a medical specialist at a military hospital in Vicenza, Italy. Kim says we need more vets to sign up and carry on the Honor Guard traditions. 

From the VFW Post 4999 Marshel Poff is the Quarter Master of 10 years. Graduating from Richland High in Noble, Illinois he was drafted into the Army in 1968. His boot camp was at (Little Korea) Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri and he was stationed in Dug Way, Utah and spent one year in Vietnam as a security planner for operations of land convoys of hundreds of trucks and air safety protections. He was discharged in October of 1970 and says our organization needs many new faces.

Former Corporal Spec 4 Dave Hinkle First Infantry Division was born February 6, 1948 in Streator, Illinois. He graduated from Minonk High in 1966 and was drafted into the U.S. Army in September 1967. In Vietnam he was wounded twice in action and awarded with two Purple Hearts. Dave says the Honor Guard is probably the most important function to be initiated at any Veterans Post. 

From our VFW Post 4999, former E 1 Private 1st Class Patrick O’Neill, a graduate of Wyoming High School, was drafted by The U.S. Army in July of 1969 after he completed a computer training school. His Boot Camp was at Fort Polk, Louisiana. He then spent time at ENT Air Base and ENT Peterson Air Base in Colorado Springs, Colorado. At Camp Samae San in Thailand, he attained the rank of E-5 Sergeant as a computer specialist. He was discharged in February of 1971. Patrick felt he needed to support his Post 4999 and has for 15 years as an Honor Guard member and a promoter of youth scholarship programs like the Junior High Patriot Pen Essay competition and High School Voice of  Democracy themes for the last 10 years. Cash prize awards have been given out to students over the years totaling $11,000 between both competitions from a panel of six judges. 

In every hamlet, village, town, and municipality in America, where there are military veterans organizations that recognize and celebrate our willing patriots in war or peacetime, The Honor Guard will always carry the candle to help light the way for our future defenders of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and like our flag that was caught and lifted back up at so many battles, so to will the Honor Guard remind our young to be as vigilant as The Greatest Generation and never let the light pale. 

There have been and always will be Hometown Heroes in Chillicothe of different walks, occupations, and stature and now these eight American military veterans join those ranks. Gentlemen and lady, from our hearts to yours, thank you for your service.