Flag raising ceremony, luncheon honor Dayton VA residents

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Denise Kerr
  • 445th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DAYTON, Ohio --  Dayton Veterans Affairs Medical Center Community Living Center residents were treated to a special flag raising ceremony and a bountiful spread of food to celebrate the holiday season December 6, 2014.  

Former Prisoner of War Sgt. 1st Class Harley Coon, a CLC resident, proposed the idea of having a flag for the residents to enjoy.

"This is the first time we had a veteran who said he really wanted a flag for their own unit," said T.L. Drake, chief nurse of the CLC. "They are very patriotic and when they ask for things we try and give them what they want."

Air Force Sergeants Association Kittyhawk Chapter 751 executive council member Chief Master Sgt. (ret.) Chuck Worm led the effort in ensuring SFC Coon and Dayton CLC residents got what they wanted, said AFSA president Senior Master Sgt. David McCoy.

Guests were honored with remarks from Coon who had spent 33 months and four days in captivity during the Korean War. 

"If the North Koreans were winning, we would get more food; if they were losing we would get less," said Coon. His indomitable spirit knew he would eventually be liberated. 

Coon brought pictures showing him with General Colin Powell and Norman Schwarzkopf Jr.  At age 83, his eyes twinkled when he told a story of meeting President Bush teasing him about being able to hug his wife during a visit.  He marveled at the rapt attention the audience paid him during his remarks on friends he lost. "You could hear a pin drop," said Coon.

The CLC was filled with more than 250 volunteers, military and family into the 186-bed facility. After the flag raising ceremony, residents and guests enjoyed a luncheon and an appearance from Santa handing out gifts to guests according to his naughty or nice list.

Army Veteran Gosie Reynolds has been living at the CLC for about seven months.  "I'm very happy.  I always enjoy when people come in because we do not have that much to do, so this is a wonderful thing." 

Several 445th Airlift Wing Airmen visited veterans during the luncheon. "It was a very unique experience to converse with veterans of a completely different era," said Senior Airman Joel McCullough, 445th Airlift Wing Public Affairs photojournalist. "As a veteran of the Iraq conflict it was compelling to hear stories of the Korean War. It was fun to exchange stories with fellow veterans."

The event is sponsored every year with the Air Force Sergeants Association and the Air Force Association. The camaraderie between the Beavercreek Veterans of Foreign Wars chapter 8312, Air Force Association, volunteers, Airmen and ROTC cadets was palpable.

"I think this event puts a lot of people altogether. It tells the veterans that they are cared about," said Drake. "Getting them altogether so they can see that these  Veterans served their country, they served it honorably and now as they are needing more and more help that not only is the VA here to help them but other organizations."