Veterans honored by East Buchanan students and Missouri Army National Guard

Gary Aebersold, of Agency, received the Vietnam War medallion from Lt. Col. Rick Dickinson of the Missouri Army National Guard's 35th Engineer Brigade at Fort Leonard Wood. Aebersold served in the active-duty Army during the Vietnam Era and was stationed in Germany. (Photo by Jennifer Archdekin)

GOWER - East Buchanan students and faculty, along with community members, came out in support of veterans past and present during the school's annual Veteran's Day program Thursday.

Following musical and dance performances honoring the nation's veterans, nine area servicemen were recognized and presented medallions for their service during World War II, the Korean War or Vietnam War.

Lt. Col. Rick Dickinson, of Houstonia, addressed the audience and later presented each veteran their medallion. Dickinson has served with the Missouri Army National Guard for nearly 32 continuous years and currently is the signal officer for the 35th Combat Engineers at Fort Leonard Wood.

"It's touching, it really is," said Dickinson. "This means everything to me because being a veteran, I know some of what these guys we are honoring today gave up while we were either not born yet or living our lives; they gave up a lot."

Dickinson said he jumped at the chance to travel from his home in Houstonia to be a part of the patriotism displayed at East Buchanan. It was especially important to reach out to the elementary through high school students.

"If I have the chance to talk about it, a chance to put it out there, a chance to get their hearts stirred up, I love it," said Dickinson. "These older guys that we honor, they didn't get that. I hear so many of them talk about that they didn't get that honor way back when. They are due that honor."

The Missouri Veterans' Awards Program was first established in 2000 with the creation of the World War II Veterans' Award Recognition. Since the program began, over 41,000 Missouri veterans have been awarded the World War II Veterans' Award Recognition. In the 2003 legislative session, the Korean War Medallion was created and later in 2006, the Vietnam War Medallion was added.

Additional information, including eligibility and an application, can be found at www.moguard.com or by calling toll-free (866) 834-3431.

For more information about the Missouri National Guard, please call 1-800-GoGuard or visit www.moguard.com.

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For more information about this release, please contact Jennifer Archdekin at 816-262-2893 or e-mail at jarchdekin@gmail.com.



Nine veterans from the Clinton Co. area were recognized during a Veteran's Day program at East Buchanan High School in Gower. Citizen-Soldiers with the Missouri Army National Guard were on hand to present medallions to their fellow veterans for their service in World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam War. (Photo by Jennifer Archdekin)



Sgt. 1st Class Charles Wood (right) of the Missouri Army National Guard extends his gratitude to Gary Aebersold, of Agency, for his service during the Vietnam era. Aebersold served in the active-duty Army and was honored during the program with the presentation of a Vietnam Era medallion. (Photo by Jennifer Archdekin)