(PHOTO BY TIMOTHY KAYS, STAFF)
By: Timothy Kays
So…what did YOU do over the weekend? The Legion Riders of the Junior Wyse West Unity American Legion Post #669 were on the road, delivering Blue Star Banners to families of American service men and women.
On the evening of July 24, they were pulling in to Oakwood to welcome a soldier home from foreign deployment. On the afternoon of July 26, the residents of County Road 8.50 heard the rolling thunder of the Legion Riders as they rolled out to the home of Ryan and Beth Houk to present them a Double Blue Star Banner in honor and appreciation of their two children who are currently serving in the United States Army, Colton and Sidney McKarns.
Bob Clark, the Blue Star Banner Chairman of the Legion Riders, officiated over the presentation. As the banners were being presented, he said, “In recognition and grateful appreciation for serving in the United States armed forces in the name of freedom and democracy, and for allegiance to God and country in courageously protecting our liberty and independence, presented by the American Legion Riders Department of Post #669, the 26th day of July, 2020.”
Clark then gave a brief history of the Blue Star Banner program. “It was designed in 1917 by a captain in the Ohio Infantry,” he said. “It honors two sons’ service in World War I. Congress read into a resolution they recognize that as a symbol indicating that family had one serving in the military. It was real popular during World War I and World War II.”
“It was very popular during the Korean War, and in the Vietnam War, it fell out of popularity. When this group was started in 2006, they felt they needed a mission, and that mission was to honor the family and the soldiers currently serving our country today. Since that time, we’ve given away just about 850 of these.”
After a presentation of honorary Blue Star lapel pins, every member of the Legion Riders came forward to walk a line past the family, shaking their hands and thanking them for their service to America.
Ryan and Beth, along with Brenda Vollmuth, the grandmother of the McKarns siblings, then posed for pictures next to one of the Legion Riders’ motorcycles. Shortly afterward, the entire troupe of the Legion Riders stepped in behind the family for a photo shoot to remember, after which the Riders saddled up and returned to the road. Mission…accomplished. “This is a big honor,” Beth said. “It’s very nice that they do this for families and soldiers when they come home. It’s very appreciated…very nice.”
Sidney had been listening and watching the proceedings from her post in North Carolina via a cell phone video conference linkup. “I think it’s a very nice thing to do. For soldiers being away from home, it brings you back home to just see that everybody still does care about you and think about you, even when you’re not there. It just shows that everybody cares and is thinking about you, and I’m very appreciative. It is very nice.”
If you have, or know of someone that has family members currently serving in the military, and you would like to get involved with the American Legion Riders Blue Star Banner program, Bob Clark is waiting to hear from you. The program and presentation is free of charge, and it all begins with a call to Bob at 419-262-0031.
Timothy can be reached at tim@thevillagereporter.com