Veterans across the state are stepping out of the shadows.
“I spent 23 years in the Air Force and I had a break in the service from 1970 to 1973, and I came back in and I retired after 20 years in 1987 from the base, here.” said Phillip Poynor, Air Force Veteran.
The events honored the veterans and reminded them that they’re not alone.
“I just enjoy coming down and -you know- associating with these guys because I know -I know what they’ve been through, most of them.” said Poynor.
The gathering allows veterans to swap stories and reminisce. Machinist Mate 1st Class Petty Officer, Darold Knibpelberg, shared with me his favorite story from his time on a repair ship.
“I just sat down in the engine room. It was warm down there. And then the thing quit, and I never worked on a Diesel before, I was a farm boy, but I monkeyed around with it and I got it to run. And oh, I was the best engineer they ever seen.” said Darold Knibpelberg, Navy Veteran.
From Air Force to Marines, each branch honored veterans.
“I would have got drafted one way or the other but I had a choice and I said, ‘I’ll take the Navy.’ because I always wanted to go in the Navy anyway.” said Knibpelberg.
Each veteran put in the time serving their country to the best of their abilities.
“You don’t see them, you know. You might walk past them, you know, many, many times and never even know they were a veteran.” said Knibpelberg.
For at least one day, those veterans were seen and recognized.
