Stump and Bauer Given Honorary Awards at Veterans Day Event
WARSAW — American Legion Post 49 held its annual Veterans Day program at the Center Lake Pavilion starting at 10:30 a.m. today, Friday, Nov. 11. Honored at the program were veterans Lenora Stump and Russell Bauer.
Stump was honored with the Order of Kosciuszko award. The award, given annually since 2004, recognizes a resident of Kosciusko County who is a veteran and has given exceptional service to God, country and others in the spirit of Thaddeus Kosciuszko, a Revolutionary War hero. To qualify, the service member has to have been honorably discharged, a resident of Kosciusko for at least five years and provide exceptional public service to others.
Born April 7, 1935, Stump joined the Army at 18 years old in 1953. She served for four years as a supply clerk in Germany and in the commissary at the Pentagon. Since her time in the service, Stump has continued to help and serve veterans as a member of the American Legion, American Legion Auxiliary and the VFW. For the Legion, Stump has served as commander, vice president, chaplain, historian and as a member of the honor guard. When she is not serving with the Legion, Stump is actively raising money for the “Needy Veterans Fund” and serving veterans through transportation services. Stump gave thanks for the award, calling it “unexpected.”
The Meritorious Service Award was given to Bauer, a member of the Indiana Patriot Guard. As an organization, the Indiana Patriot Guard’s motto is, “We stand for those who stand for us.” Presenter John Sadler described the meaning of a patriot and a guard: a patriot being a person who vigorously supports their country, and a guard being a person who watches over and protects others. Sadler called Bauer “a true Patriot Guard”.
Bauer served in the Army from 1974-1976. Since serving, he has dedicated his time to serving veterans through the Indiana Patriot Guard. Bauer has been a Senior Ride Captain with the Guard for 10 years, member of the American Legion Riders for 21 years, ABATE for 35 years and is also a VFW member.
“In our war, a lot of us felt uncomfortable, and made the mission of our life that no veteran would feel bad again,” Bauer said in his thanks. “We take care of the young kids today, they deserve it, they need it, maybe worse than we did.”