By Brett Milam
Editor
Goshen Local Schools held a series of Veterans Day events on Nov. 8, including a veterans diploma ceremony for Korean War Army veteran Roger Lee Woods.
At the high school, Stephanie Walker, principal, led a ceremony to give a diploma to Private First Class Woods, whose remains were identified and return over the summer to Goshen.
Walker said it was a privilege to be there, and to honor a member of “our Goshen High School family.”
Present to receive the diploma was Woods’ family from Goshen: Judy Allen, niece; Cindy Mason, Allen’s daughter; and Mark and Cody, Cindy’s sons.
“I ask that everyone in the audience honor this occasion with the respect it deserves. We want this ceremony to be remembered by his family with pride,” Walker said.
The ceremony included the Goshen High School band, as led by director Mike Ossenschmidt, performing the Army theme, “The Caissons Go Rolling Along,” and the hymn, “God of Our Fathers.”
The Goshen High School Choir, led by director Jennifer Hansford, also did a rendition of “Coming Home.”
Jennifer Rammel, an American government teacher at the school, then gave the backstory on Woods.
Woods, originally from Hamilton, Ohio, and 18 at the time of his death, was accounted for nearly 69 years after being killed in the war, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced on June 21.
In the summer of 1950, Woods was a member of Company I, 3rd Battalion, 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Regiment, fighting against members of the Korean People’s Army.
Woods’ 3rd Battalion was 640 soldiers strong, and arrived in Korea on July 2, 1950, about a week after hostilities had begun.
He was reported missing not long after, and was officially declared dead in 1953.
To date, 7,652 Americans remain unaccounted for from the Korean War.
Woods’ name is recorded on the Courts of the Missing at the Punchbowl, along with other who are missing.
A rosette was poised to be placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for.
The Punchbowl is the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii.
“History has taught us over and over again that freedom is not free,” Walker said, in closing. “When push comes to shove, the ultimate protectors of freedom and liberty are the brave men and women of our armed forces. Throughout history, they’ve answered the call in bravery and sacrifice.”
Darrell Edwards, superintendent, said of the ceremony, “I think it’s a great experience to offer our kids to learn about those who have given selflessly of themselves for others, and that we like to teach our kids to respect the folks that are serving in our military and serve our country in other ways, and one of the best we can do that is to host these commemorations during the school day, whether it’s kindergarteners all the way up to seniors,” he said.
After the event, Judy said it was a “really wonderful thing always to be honored.”
“He came up missing and we had no idea where he was at,” she said, noting they didn’t know if he was in North or South Korea, and if he had been captured or not.
Judy added that there’s been such an outpouring of patriotism in Southern Ohio for “our family.”
“I just wish my dad and grandpa were here [to see this],” Judy said.
Cindy said identifying and bringing Woods home has been the highlight of her summer.
“Hopefully this story gives hope to other families,” Cindy said, of those who are still hoping to identify their loved ones.
Veterans honored at Marr/Cook Elementary
At Marr/Cook Elementary, relatives and community members of students were recognized at a school-wide assembly, and were led out to the assembly by the Boy Scouts.
Amy Smallwood, a second grade teacher, explained the origins of Veterans Day to the students, noting that it had originally been Armistice Day, established on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of WWI.
“Every teacher in this building values our veterans and our Veterans Day, but there’s only so much that we can teach, and there’s only so many videos that we can show. It is great that you’re here in-person so that our young children, our youngest Warriors, can see, can meet, and most importantly, can honor our veterans, so thank you for coming,” Smallwood said.
Veterans Wall at the Middle School
At the Middle School, students brought in pictures of veterans they wanted to honor, and then described what they had done in the military.
“My grandpa is MY HERO because he received medals for being a sharpshooter, being in the National Defense Service, and good conduct,” one student wrote about Robert Lee Piercefield, Army, 1969.
“My uncle is MY HERO,” read another, about Dan Evans, electrician’s mate in the Navy from 1994 to 2014.
“My aunt is my HERO,” read another, about Marina Evans, sergeant in the Air Force from 1986 to 2006.