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‘We Can Never Repay’: Clymer FBLA Holds Annual Veteran Recognition Breakfast

By Sara Holthouse 4 min read

CLYMER -- Every year the Clymer Central School FBLA honors veterans on or around Veteran's Day with a special breakfast and presentation to honor them for their service.

This year's breakfast was held Thursday morning at the school. The event included breakfast for the veterans who were invited to attend, along with a presentation and slideshow recognition both for those in attendance and other Clymer graduates who have served or are currently serving.

FBLA students had the opportunity to interview each veteran in attendance at the breakfast beforehand and shared some of their stories and experiences with the group during the presentation in their honor. Veterans in attendance included Ronald Moore, Scott Reynolds, Michael Ganske, Nathan Babcock, Frank Nichols, Ron Giles, Bill Schutt, Scott Benza, Brian Malecki, Leonard Neckers -- who served in three branches of the military -- and Mike Cronin. There is one Purple Heart veteran who lives in the district, Craig Shouse, who was invited to the breakfast but unable to attend.

"Hearing first hand about your experiences reminds us that the history we read about in classrooms was shaped by real people right here, right now in our community," FBLA member Addie Reynolds said during her introduction of the presentation of the gifts that were given to the attending veterans.

Two of the attending veterans, Michael Ganske and Scott Benza, also spoke with The Post-Journal during the breakfast event on what the event and Veterans Day as a whole means to them.

"Veterans Day has been around for many years, marking the 11th day of the 11th month and the end of World War I," Ganske said. "That was meant to be the war to end all wars, though that didn't happen. The sacrifices made by veterans for our country from 1775 to today we can never repay."

As someone who has traveled around the world, Ganske added he has seen the governments in other countries and that those countries do not have the same freedoms that Americans do, saying he is thankful for all veterans' contributions.

For Benza, the environment in which veterans served is part of what makes them special.

"What makes veterans special is the military environment that we served in was about taking care of people," Benza said.

Ganske also spoke briefly during the event about the school's Veterans Memorial Wall that is in the process of being replaced in a way that will continue to honor the school's veterans that also has the ability to be moved if needed. Right now, Ganske and the committee working on the wall are looking at putting in a plaque where the wall used to stand that is currently filled by flags representing the different branches of the military. While there are over 1,100 names on the wall, Clymer has about 45 or 46 veterans that were killed in action that they would like to honor first, as including all 1,100 names would make the plaque cost at minimum $50,000. The goal is to start with those killed in action -- which would cost less, with the committee working to raise those funds -- and organizations have already reached out and donated some funds. The wall that previously stood at the front of the school was unable to be saved, but the list of all veterans that were on the wall can be found on the school website clymercsd.org, under the community tab. If needed, the Historical Society has also said the wall can be moved to their location.

Following the breakfast, presentation and slideshow, students lined the school's hallways to give the veterans a clap out as they left the event.

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