Charles City honors area veterans at Comet Gym Veterans Day program

By Travis Fischer, tkfischer@charlescitypress.com

The Charles City community met at the Comet Gym on Friday, Nov. 11, to honor area veterans for the annual Veterans Day ceremony.

Organized by the Charles City Community School District and the high school FFA, speakers of the day included an invocation from Pastor Russ Leeper and an introduction from Charles City Council member DeLaine Freeseman, with U.S. Army veteran George Cummins serving as the guest speaker for the program.

Cummins, who served in both the Army and the Peace Corp, told the stories of several veterans from the area who served in conflicts from World War II to modern day.

Cummins told the audience about Bob Lepley, his uncle, who was drafted and sent to Europe during World War II. Cummins said that he didn’t know much about his uncle’s service, but found that Lepley was in the unit that liberated the Auschwitz concentration camp and that he saw firsthand the atrocities that took place there.

“The only thing I knew was that he had no time for Holocaust deniers,” said Cummins.

Another featured World War II veteran, John Sebern of Charles City, saw action on the other side of the globe. Sebern would spend 35 years teaching and coaching students in Charles City, but when he was 17 himself he joined the Marines and was shipped overseas to fight in the Pacific Theater. Sebern was involved with the Iwo Jima invasion and was part of the unit made famous for raising the American Flag on the top of Mount Suribachi.

Also participating in the Iwo Jima invasion was Jim Smith, a retired Charles City attorney, who, at the age of 99, is one of the few remaining World War II veterans still living.

Cummins himself served in Tanzania in 1965 as a member of the Peace Corp, where he stressed the importance of desegregation both in the armed forces and at home. He told the audience about Wes Lynch, a black WWII veteran from West Virginia who was part of a segregated tank unit deployed to Europe and returned to a country that continued to separate people by race. In the Peace Corp, Lynch served as an advisor and led the ag group that Cummins was part of.

“Having a black man supervise whites sent a strong message,” said Cummins.

He also spent time in South Korea in 1969. While U.S. astronauts were landing on the moon, he was building roads south of the demilitarized zone in the event of an invasion.

“I developed a great deal of respect for the Korean people I worked with and continue to follow events on the Korean peninsula today,” said Cummins.

Cummins concluded his presentation by explaining the importance of service, whether it be the military, a non-profit organization, or even local volunteer opportunities.

“Remember on this Veterans Day that some gave all,” said Cummins. “We all need to give some to make this a better world for everyone.”

Already taking the initiative in that regard is CCHS senior Brayce Howlett, who is in the process of joining the Army.

Howlett spoke to the audience about how he had two ideas about his future as he nears graduation – one being to serve in the armed forces while the other taking him down the path to become a pastor.

“I wasn’t quite sure how these two things were going to mesh together,” said Howlett.

As it turns out, those two paths aren’t mutually exclusive as Howlett explained that the Army will help him with his education towards becoming a pastor while in the service.

“It doesn’t have to be the final destination that people think it is,” said Howlett. “It can be a stepping stone in life to get people where they need to be.”

Inspired by his father, Howlett said that he is looking forward to serving his country.

“I wanted to do my part to make sure my friends and family have the opportunity to wake up every day and enjoy the freedoms that we enjoy in this country,” said Howlett.

After the speakers, the audience was presented with a history of America’s wars from the high school social studies class. Danica Dejongoy, Kayona Flowers, Harper McInroy, Allen David, Gabe Rogstad, Jamison Mayhew, Jacob Diers and Jamaria Foster narrated a slide show detailing various military conflicts in America’s history.

Music during the program was provided by the high school band and choir, which included a song rendition of “In Flanders Field” by the CCHS Comet Chorus.

The program ended with CCHS FFA Vice President Delaney Ruzicka recognizing the veterans in the audience, followed by a moment of silence, the playing of taps and the retiring of the colors.

Pastor Leeper offered a closing prayer and final remarks were given by FFA President Zachary Chambers.