Seven men were honored at the 2024 Veterans Day Recognition Program at the Marblehead Senior Center on Nov. 5. They were, from left, Don Hawk, Marty Stys, Bruce Shenkel, Don Cramer, Joe Stys, Don Eckert and John Stayancho. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

BY SHERI TRUSTY

Among the men honored at the 2024 Veterans Day Recognition Program at the Marblehead Senior Center on Nov. 5 was John Stayancho, a Vietnam Veteran who served from 1970 to 1971. He said he came home from the war with lifelong lessons.

“Everything helped me the rest of my life, but mostly the perspective you get,” he said. “Just serving my country was a worthwhile thing.”

Don Eckert played in the Army band during his military service in 1955 to 1957. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

The program, which was sponsored by Stein Hospice and the Ottawa County Veterans Service Office, was held to celebrate the service and honor the sacrifice of military veterans. The event was hosted by Stein Hospice Provider Relations Manager, Katherine Snode, and Stein volunteer, Gary Howerth.

Ottawa County Commissioners Donald Douglas and Mark Coppeler presented each veteran with a pin and a certificate. Among the veterans was 91-year-old Don Eckert, who served in the Army from 1955 to 1957. Eckert was a professional band and orchestra director and had the unique experience of playing in the Army band, but that didn’t keep him from the discipline of the military.

Ottawa County Commissioner Donald Douglas, right, clips a pin on veteran Joe Stys. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

“They would awaken us in the middle of the night, and we would have to do drills with the band,” he said. “One time, one fellow was walking asleep. We found him the next day asleep on the side of the road. He had crashed his trombone slide.”

Eckert was stationed at Fort Chaffee, Arkansas, where the men kept a chin-up bar at the entrance of the mess tent so they could work their muscles before meals.

Ottawa County Commissioner Mark Coppeler, left, thanks veteran Don Hawk for his service, while Ottawa County Veterans Service Office Director, Sara Toris, looks on. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

“He would tell me everyone would eat so fast that food was flying around at every meal. It always looked like a food fight,” said Eckert’s daughter, Erin Eckert Strouse.

Eckert said there was a purpose to the speed-eating.

“Whoever was left had to clean up,” he said. “I never had to.”

Bruce Shenkel was among the veterans honored at the 2024 Veterans Day Recognition Program at the Marblehead Senior Center on Nov. 5. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

Eckert, who was born in 1933, was just 22 when he entered the service. He and his wife married while he was still in the Army, and she moved onto the base with him. The base had a movie theater, which provided the couple with the opportunity for a cheap date night. The only downside was that the rest of the theater was filled with young servicemen.

“Whenever there was kissing in the movie, all the guys would make kissing noises,” Strouse said, laughing. “It wasn’t very romantic for mom and dad.”