Local veteran honored with service medal after 55 years Published Nov. 21, 2007 By Master Sgt. Dave Elonen 910th Maintenance Squadron CORTLAND, Ohio -- Veterans at Cortview Village retirement home, Cortland, Ohio were recognized for their contribution and service to our country November 12 during a Veterans' Day luncheon in the complex. Air Force Reserve Master Sergeant David Elonen, a Citizen Airmen assigned to the 910th Maintenance Squadron, conducted the program to honor all the veterans. According to Sergeant Elonen with all the programs and events going on that day, some vets could not attend to receive their due honors. "I wanted to make sure as many veterans as possible were recognized for their service to our great country. To honor those presently serving worldwide, to recognize those who have answered the last call, and to remember those who have not returned from their last mission (POW/MIAs)." said Sergeant Elonen. The program included a reading on the history of Veterans' Day, recognition of those veterans in attendance, an observance of 11 seconds of silence for those unable to attend, and a luncheon with items donated by a local pizzeria. "It's my way of saying thanks to those veterans for serving our country during the many times our country has been in conflict," remarked Sgt Elonen. It is great that the community and businesses stand behind them and join me in thanking them." A Korean War veteran, former Army Sergeant First Class Robert Nolan was presented the Korean War Service Medal by Sergeant Elonen. Rob Nolan served with the US Army in Korea with the United Nations forces. US Veterans of the Korean War became eligible to wear a medal initially offered to them more than 50 years ago, but they were never issued. In 1951, the medal was originally offered by the Republic Of Korea to United Nations forces serving in Korea. But the then-current US law prohibited the American military from wearing medals issued by foreign governments. Congress changed that in 1954 but by then most service personnel had returned home. In May 13, 2000, a letter to Defense Secretary William Cohen from ROK Defense Minister Seong Tae Cho, formally announced that the Korean government would provide the Republic of Korea War Service Medal to eligible US veterans of that conflict or to their next of kin at no cost. "I wanted to make sure Mr. Nolan got his much deserved medal since he met all the requirements. I had Mr. Nolan come forward for the presentation and requested the other veterans stand by calling the room to attention while I read the citation," said Sergeant Elonen. "It was great to honor one of our veterans personally with this decoration. Mr. Nolan's patriotism and sense of duty is beyond reproach. I always enjoy talking with him about his service to our country. When you talk with him, you immediately sense that he is as proud today of having served as he did more than fifty years ago. It is an honor to share the term 'veteran' with someone like him," he concluded. This is the third year that the program has been held at Cortview Village. It began in 2005 when Sergeant Elonen wanted to show appreciation to two of the veterans at the complex. "James Marlow and Robert Nolan took care of my mother while I was deployed," he said. "It took quite a load off my mind knowing that someone was watching out for her while I was gone. So to thank them for their care, I made them each a military biography that I authored and presented it to them at the luncheon." "Darla Loychik, manager of Cortview Village, asked if I would come back and do it again. It took off from there and it keeps getting better each year," he said. Darla expressed her gratitude and helped arrange this program. "I am so enthused that the veterans here could be honored since many could not travel to local festivities. I am glad it was received very well. We had almost forty residents show up to help with the tribute. More places should have programs like this for our veterans," said Miss Lovchik. "All the veterans keep thanking us for this recognition program which is ironic. It was done to thank them," she concluded. "No one in this country can thank the veterans enough for their service, dedication, or sacrifices. No veteran ever served to preserve war; their service is for the preservation of peace. We need to continue to honor those veterans and others who have served this country well into theirs and our lifetime. Most veterans will not ask for anything more than a 'thank-you' but we need to give and show them a lot more. Even if it is fifty years late," Sergeant Elonen said. Additional information on how to apply for or request the medal can be found by contacting the: Air Force Personnel Center, Monday - Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (CST) at (800) 558-1404, or the Awards and Decorations Section (210) 565-2432/2520/2516, fax (210) 565-3118, or by writing to HQ AFPC/DPPPRA, 550 C Street West, Suite 12, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas 78150-4714. The internet address is: http://www.koreanwar.org/html/korean_war_service_medal.html