ASHLAND — Matt Miller, Ashland’s mayor, and State Rep. Melanie Miller stood at the entrance to the Fraternal Order of the Eagles, greeting veterans as they came through the doors Monday morning.
Several donned caps declaring when and where they served.
“Can I pin this on you?” Melanie Miller asked veterans as they came in the door.
She placed American flag pins on their clothing, and then veterans coursed through a lineup of food — biscuits and gravy, pancakes and eggs — served to them by members of Ashland’s city council.
Patriotic music played in the background as hundreds of veterans filed into the room for the mayor’s annual Veterans Day breakfast.
“Melanie and I love to see you here, especially on a patriotic day like today with the sun shining through the windows,” Matt Miller told the crowd.
The breakfast kicked off a full day’s worth of events aimed at honoring Ashland’s veterans.
An American Legion event was set for 10:30 a.m., followed by a free showing of “We Were Soldiers” at the Ashland Theatre for veterans and their guests. That film, according to Matt Miller, was slated for screenings at 1:30 and 6:30 p.m.
Plus, for the first time, Ashland University will host a Veterans Day ceremony at the Jack and Deb Miller Chapel at 6:30 p.m.
(Below is a press release about AU’s event.)
Honoring service members
Don Rogers served as a lieutenant in the Marine Corps during Vietnam. His father was a Marine before him, and his son served as one after him.
The return from Vietnam was difficult — Rogers said Vietnam veterans weren’t accepted very well when they came back. Still, Rogers earned a degree from The Ohio State University. He became a part owner of an auto repair shop.
“It’s been a good life,” Rogers said.
Rogers said people often don’t realize how many veterans there are until they gather for an event like the mayor’s breakfast.
“It’s nice to know the country still cares about us,” Rogers said.
That sentiment is one shared by Rogers’ fellow veterans, like Fred Confer. Confer served in the army for 21 years, including in Desert Storm. Confer said Monday was a day to celebrate. He planned to attend the American Legion event on Veterans Day as well.
Rogers said if given the chance, he’d serve again. Most veterans in the room, he said, would likely agree with him.
“It’s just something we do,” Rogers said.
