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Service In And Out Of Uniform When Those Who Serve Continue To Lead

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Tuesday November 8, 2016

By Cookie Steponaitis

On a steamy morning in May, 1862 a young Union soldier penned a letter home to his loved ones before the coming battle that would be taking place. History would record the day as the Battle of Winchester and give the victory to the southern forces under the leadership of Stonewall Jackson. The soldier’s letter would be his parting words to his loved ones and hidden behind the hope was a fear that the day dawning might be his last. “I am watching the rising of a sun that will hold much meaning to us all today. My thoughts are not with the men or the camp, but to the table you must now be at with my sisters. In my mindeye you are so real and the love so strong. If I do perchance make it home, we will have so much to do together, for there are still so many needs to be met and things to accomplish.”
    He never did make it home and died later that day on the Virginia field. Yet, in his letter are the words of love and service echoed by so many American veterans today. Many who came home after service hung up their uniform and went right into the service of others in their communities. Stopping by a local veteran’s organization this reporter finds service alive in the hearts and actions of service men and women past and present. When talking with Korean War Veteran Henry Broughton, it is clear that the desire to serve others runs deeply in many American veterans. “When I got out of the military sixty one years ago American Legion member George Roberts insisted I join the American Legion,” explained Broughton. “That first meeting we had $1.60 in the checkbook, owed for two years of fuel and other places to pay as well. We wrote letters to all of the businesses and told them we would pay them and we did. It started out with Bingo and expanded to other programs that became staples for the community and the Legion. My wife and I cooked meals in the kitchen for fifteen years and in our last month working there in June 2016 there were six major dinners that month.” During his time of service with the Legion Henry Broughton served as Commander two or three times and stayed in his volunteer position through season after season honoring those who have passed. During the past sixty one years, Broughton and many in the Legion Color Guard have performed over 4500 military funerals and in the past year have been called to serve at an average of fifteen to eighteen in a summer.
    In remembering those who serve in uniform, it is also fitting and proper to honor the reality that many come home and assume leadership roles in the community. Whether coaching, leading new businesses, helping in food shelves, museums, getting programs started or organizing fundraising drives for others, our service men and women continue to demonstrate the concept of service to others. As Veterans Day dawns this year perhaps we will all pause to see that lone soldier writing home and thinking of all he or she could accomplish when and if providence allowed him or her to live. Then, perhaps we could take to heart the message that all of us can serve in some way to see that the sacrifices of so many have not been in vain and service to others is truly a part of the fabric of American life.

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