by Lisa Schauer
Alderton-Dawson American Legion Post 60 held its annual Veterans Day program on Tuesday, November 11 in Berkeley Springs.
Commander Dave Rose welcomed fellow veterans and guests, then recognized the POW/MIA remembrance table setting.
Following an advancing of the colors by the Legion’s color guard, Shelly Blankenship sang the National Anthem flawlessly.
Rocky Fox, Squadron Commander for the Sons of American Legion, thanked the veterans, and said if anyone is out there who needs help, they can contact him.
Iraq war veteran Sandra Cotton from Post 174 in Morgantown spoke of her experience as a flight nurse during air evacuations, where she dealt with IED explosions during the war.
Cotton was recruited into the Air National Guard straight out of high school in 1976 as a scrub tech.
At that time, she recalled, not all jobs were available to women. They were provided with no weapons or tactical training. The clothing they had to wear, including low-heeled pumps compared to men’s boots, was impractical.
After eight years in the enlisted ranks, she worked her way up to become an officer and a nurse, rising to colonel.
Cotton admitted to throwing her rank around to help a soldier get home.
“Soldiers deserve the best healthcare,” said Cotton, who focuses on suicide prevention in retirement.
“My hope is to keep giving back,” she concluded.
Guest speaker Dave Harden served in the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Army for a combined 27 years.
Harden started out in the Marines as an electrician, pulling mess duty and guarding posts in the western Pacific.
After an honorable discharge from the Marines, Harden went to college on the GI bill and re-enlisted in the Army in his early 30s.
Upon retirement, he was awarded the Legion of Merit and the Master Combat Infantry Badge.
Harden spoke of humble beginnings, a lengthy military career, and his comfortable life with wife Lee, who immigrated to the U.S. after meeting her husband in Seoul, South Korea.
After the traditional wreath ceremony, the Place brothers from “Hymns for Him” sang a patriotic melody.
The American Legion Honor Guard performed a 21-gun salute and “Taps” before the colors were retired.
Veterans were invited to participate in drawings and giveaways for gifts.
All gratefully partook in a soup-and-sandwich lunch provided by the American Legion family.
