Springfield Honors its Veterans

Ethel Smith isn't sure how long she's organized Springfield's Veterans Day Ceremony. The best guess she and her fellow American Legion Post members can make is that the Word War II veteran and Springfield resident has been organizing the annual commemoration for about a decade.

But the success of her efforts isn't in doubt. Smith, the sole female member of Legion post 228-Springfield, once again put on a respectful and engaging ceremony that included students, music and Springfield officials, employees and volunteers.

Smith, whose World War II nurse's uniform hangs in a display case at Jonathan Dayton High School, praised the schools' involvement in the ceremony.

"The schools in Springfield plan this program, and when they get here, it's something students talk about," Smith said. "It keeps Veterans Day alive."

Smith was joined in the ceremony by her fellow Legion members Warren Sim, Raymond Schramm and Richard Shipman, who MC'ed the ceremony. Township Mayor Ziad Shehady and Committee Member Marc Krauss, respectively an active member of the National Guard and a retired Army Major, were part of the ceremony. Students from a number of Springfield schools read letters of thanks and presented symbols of American patriotism, and student musicians played the national anthem and other patriotic songs. 

"Springfield is a great town and the veterans have a lot of support," Smith said.