Valpo Parks Foundation remembers and honors community heroes with 22nd annual Veterans Day Ceremony

Putting others before yourself is one of the most selfless traits that a person can have. That message is best expressed through our veterans and their unwavering commitment to our country. 

On Friday, November 7, Valpo Parks Foundation hosted its annual Veterans Day Ceremony at the Service Memorial at Foundation Meadows Park. This ceremony is always hosted on the Friday before Veterans Day, which falls this year on Tuesday, November 11.

Valpo Parks Director Kevin Nuppnau looks forward to every opportunity the Valpo Parks Foundation can bring former veterans, family members of veterans, and the entire community together to recognize the people who made a difference in our country.

“The Service Memorial is a special place, and we’re proud to be the caretakers of it,” Nuppnau said. “We’ve taken the time twice a year to do this for 22 years now, and this is a chance for everyone to gather and remember.”

U.S. Navy Veteran Bill Oeding is a city administrator in Valparaiso who understands the value of recognizing the people who fought for this country, especially the local residents.

“These men and women have dedicated a chunk of their lives to defend our nation and maintain our freedom that we get to enjoy every single day of our lives,” Oeding said. “We need to stop, reflect, and think about them. As a veteran, I’m glad to honor those who gave even more than I did. These people should be recognized, honored, and respected for their sacrifice.”

Oeding was one of the three speakers who read the names on the Duty & Sacrifice Wall, along with U.S. Navy Veteran Jim Spanopoulos and Service Memorial Committee Member Julia Hess. Prior to reading the names, Oeding also recognized Doug Pierce, who has been reading the names on the wall for the past 21 years.

“When you look through the names on the wall, you think about the wars they were in and the time frame that they spent fighting for our freedom,” Oeding said. “Recognizing these heroes is something we should be doing year-round. They did what they had to do to protect us and give us a quality of life that we get to enjoy every day.”

Students from Cooks Corner Elementary School who participate in Student Council were invited to the ceremony. Joselyn Schwerdt, STEM teacher and student council coordinator, believes this event is a great opportunity for the students to learn about the importance and impact that these veterans have in the community.

“We’re trying to find a way in the Student Council to make it more inclusive to everybody and teach them about Veterans Day,” Schwerdt said. “It’s important to all of us, even if you don’t have a veteran in your family. This is also a good opportunity for the students to get out here as representatives.”

Similar to how veterans fought and sacrificed for our country to vote, the Student Council at Cooks Corner Elementary School follows a similar pattern. According to Schwerdt, each class voted two people to represent various projects around the school.

“We’re all continuing to learn about our history,” Nuppnau said. “Having the kids here today from Cooks Corner is special, because they’re just now starting to understand what the country needs and the freedom that we have. To have them come here and see it on full display, I think that will escalate the learning process and hopefully inspire them to want to learn more.”

During the program, a Veterans Day message was provided by U.S. Army Veteran Josh Koch. In 2005, Koch was deployed to Iraq as a 21-year-old who was uncertain of what would lay ahead. Not knowing what to expect, he absorbed a lot of experiences that shaped the lens he sees life through today.

“I saw incredible courage in the Iraqi people risking their lives to vote and be heard, fully aware they might be targeted for doing so,” Koch said. “Courage isn’t just running toward danger; it’s choosing to hope when hope feels impossible. We spent a year of our lives in Iraq, and at first, it seemed like time stood still. By the end of the year, it actually felt like time had flown by.”

A big part of why it felt like a dramatic shift in speed for Koch’s experience in Iraq was the constant support of his family, who would send letters and care packages to keep him up-to-date during one of the hardest times of his life.

Once the uniform comes off for the veterans, Koch emphasizes that there still needs to be constant support for these heroes.

“There are many groups that help support veterans in the community,” Koch said. There’s the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), and the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), to name a few. They’re all available to help veterans get the benefits they earned. These groups also advocate for veterans in Washington D.C. by ensuring benefits are not taken away.”

Koch also spotlighted events like the monthly Veterans Breakfast at Pines Village and the annual Veterans Appreciation Dinner hosted by the Valpo Rotary and Kiwanis Clubs. He encourages the community to get involved with or donate to these groups who look after veterans in the community. Koch believes that sometimes, the most meaningful thing that can be done for a veteran is asking them questions and listening to their stories.

When it comes to Koch’s story and commitment to serving his country, one person who presented him with a gift at the ceremony as a form of appreciation is Mark Zimmerman. As a retired water colorist in the community and art teacher in Michigan City, Zimmerman decided to create a piece for Koch.

“I’ve donated a lot of art pieces to nonprofits in the community,” Zimmerman said. “I’ve completed a few veteran water colors. Last spring, I donated one to Josh, and I’m giving another one to him today. The canvas says ‘Proud U.S. Army Veteran,’ and there is a matching mug as a way to thank him for his service and coming here to talk to everyone today.”

Remembrance of our veterans and the sacrifices they have made create the foundation of where we are today. Even though Veterans Day is a national recognition for these brave warriors, we must always keep them in mind.

“I’m honored to be a part of this ceremony,” Nuppnau said. “It’s an important tradition for us to say the names out loud and remember them out loud. As a community, we all need to respect and honor our veterans.”

For more information about the Valpo Parks Foundation, you can visit valpoparksfoundation.org.