The Lima/Allen County Chamber of Commerce held its inaugural Military Appreciation Day on Thursday at the Veterans Memorial Civic Center, honoring the dedication and sacrifice of military personnel, past and present, alongside their families. The two-hour event inspired a spirit of gratitude among local leaders and speakers for those who have served.
The program featured an opening color guard, a national anthem ceremony, testimony from elected officials, a keynote speech, military appreciation awards, and a patriotic closing ceremony, all complementing a lunch and fellowship gathering. The day aimed to acknowledge service members and their loved ones from across the region.
The event concluded with the presentation of several awards. Warriors Way received an organizational award. Individual service awards were presented to Chad Welker, representing the Marines, and Will Thompson, representing the Army. A posthumous individual service award was also given to Richard “Butch” Brewer, an Army veteran from Lima who passed away on May 22. Brewer’s wife, Roberta, accepted the award on his behalf, receiving a standing ovation from attendees. Roberta Brewer shared her gratitude and began reading letters her husband had written to his mother during his deployment in Vietnam. Chamber president Josh Unterbrink completed reading the letters, noting Brewer’s sincere commitment to helping fellow service members. Unterbrink stated that if Brewer were present, he would humbly say others were more deserving, but he would offer thanks.
Captain Jill Emerick, a Lima pediatrician and United States Navy veteran, delivered the keynote address, sharing insights from her 31-year military career. Her extensive service included roles as a general medical officer of the Marine Air Logistics Squadron and as a pediatrician in Okinawa, Japan. Captain Emerick also provided humanitarian aid to 14 countries in South and Central America while serving aboard the USNS Comfort. During her speech, she offered three "lessons" from her career, encouraging attendees to "Find a hole and fill it," "Bloom where you are planted," and to recognize that "You are the secret ingredient." Emerick emphasized that veterans possess more leadership training than they often realize, noting, "Veterans know that if something is broken, you volunteer to fix it."
State Sen. Susan Manchester, a Republican representing Waynesfield, provided regional representation and spoke about her personal connection to veteran appreciation. Manchester cited Ronald Reagan’s observation that freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction, a sentiment she now considers differently as a new mother. She reflected on the Founding Fathers, stating they could not have imagined the country's development over 250 years, attributing this longevity to the daily efforts of those who serve to keep the country safe.
Ron Kirwan, a 94-year-old Lima resident who served as a medic in the Navy during the Korean War, expressed his deep appreciation for the event. Kirwan highlighted the importance of recognizing service members, comparing the day’s significance to regional memorials like the Veterans Wall of Honor at Lima Senior High School and similar displays in nearby towns such as Wapakoneta and Ottawa. He enthusiastically remarked, “I think this is great for Lima. It's the greatest since sliced bread.”
The inaugural Military Appreciation Day successfully gathered community members and leaders to collectively honor and recognize the profound contributions of military veterans and their families in Lima and Allen County.
