Front row, from left, Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) members: Kaiden Frederick, Aaron Hoffman, Jacob Watkins, Andrew Baker and Rezner Davis; back row, from left, American Legion Post 49 Commander John Mort, Warsaw Salvation Army Envoy Ken Locke, Order of Kosciuszko Award winner Joseph E. Banks III, Salvation Army Indiana Division Rep Joe Macko and President of McHatton-Sadler Funeral Chapels John Sadler. InkFreeNews photo by Lasca Randels

By Lasca Randels
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — The Salvation Army and Joseph E. Banks III of Warsaw were recipients of awards at the annual Veterans Day ceremony at Center Lake Pavilion Thursday, Nov. 11.

The event, hosted by VFW Post 1126 and American Legion Post 49, began at 10:30 a.m. with patriotic music performed by Kosciusko Purdue Extension Choir, followed by Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) posting colors. The Tolling of the Bells took place at 11 a.m.

American Legion Post 49 Commander John Mort, the keynote speaker at the event, said the American Legion has made suicide prevention among veterans its top priority.

“Buddy checks are one tool, but we must also do whatever it takes to encourage veterans to seek help from the Department of Veteran Affairs or other trained professionals,” Mort said. “We must remove all the stigma associated with asking for help, for being diagnosed with PTSD, depression or any other condition that could lead to one taking his or her own life.”

Mort encouraged everyone to memorize the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and Veterans Crisis line number and to “offer it freely to those in need.” That number is 1-(800)-273-8255, extension 1.

“Follow up and ensure that veterans you encounter know that you are an ally and can be counted on for support,” Mort suggested. “You can also show your support for these great men and women by honoring a veteran in your workplace, patronizing a veteran-owned business or donating to a veterans program. Or you can simply thank them for their service.”

John Sadler, president of McHatton-Sadler Funeral Chapels, presented the 2021 Meritorious Service award to the Salvation Army.

Sadler spoke about the Salvation Army’s long history of serving those who serve. 

This award is presented to an individual or organization that has supported local veterans and their families above and beyond the call of duty.

Joe Macko with the Indiana Divisional Office accepted the award on behalf of the Salvation Army.

The Meritorious Service Award was first given out in 2012. 

Past recipients of that award include the combined Honor Guard Post 49 of the American Legion and Post 1126 of the VFW, Oakwood Cemetery, Jordan Mayfield, Fred Vining, Russ Bauer, David Morales, Liberty Sewing Circle, John C. Peterson Post 49 of the American Legion and the Kosciusko County Government.

Warsaw Salvation Army Envoy Ken Locke presented the “Order of Kosciuszko” award to Joseph E. Banks III of Warsaw.

This award is given for exceptional service to God, country and others. in the spirit of Thaddeus Kosciuszko, Police and Revolutionary War hero. 

Banks enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1957. He was placed on a consecutive series of three heavy cruisers, starting in 1959. His job on the ships was to service a 300 mile air search radar.

Banks was honorably discharged in May 1962. He later went on the join the Naval Reserve unit in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1964 where he instructed new naval enlistees in basic electronic. He performed that duty for six years and was honorably discharged from the Reserves in 1970.

He then joined the Air National Guard out of Fort Wayne in 1982 and served as a non-commissioned officer in charge of safety. He was promoted to master sergeant in 1994 and began his next assignment as the Wing Command’s first sergeant. 

In 1996, Banks finally retired with 26 years of service. He serves on the Honor Guard of American Legion Post 49 and VFW Post 1126. 

Banks is married to Constance. They are the parents of two sons and a daughter.

The Order of Kosciuszko Award has been presented annually since 2004. 

Past recipients include Donald Frantz, Douglas Brumfield Sr., Robert “Coach” Lichtenwalter, Richard “Dick” Dobbins, Thomas Everett, Michael Barnett, Donald and Sally Nichols, Robert “Bob Gast, Roy Bradbury, Philip Porter, N. Bruce Howe, Robert “Bob” Savage, Lenora Stump, Roy “Rev” Blake, Rex Rife, Thomas Kinch and Raymond Bledsoe. 

Landon Porter, a representative from U.S. Congressman Jim Banks’ office, read a letter from Banks, who was unable to attend the ceremony in person.

The letter read, in part, “At this critical juncture in American history, it is essential to remind ourselves for that which America’s veterans fought, bled and even died.

We must remember this, as the battle to save America now wages as intensely in our classrooms, town halls and communities as it does on battlefields far away. It’s a battle over the greatness of our past, the spirit of the present and the vision of our future.”

A large crowd turned out for the annual Veterans Day ceremony at Center Lake Pavilion. InkFreeNews photo by Lasca Randels

From left, Warsaw Salvation Army Envoy Ken Locke and Order of Kosciuszko award winner Joseph E. Banks III. InkFreeNews photo by Lasca Randels

Landon Porter, a representative from U.S. Congressman Jim Banks’ office, read a letter from Banks. InkFreeNews photo by Lasca Randels