By Casey Jarmes | The News-Review
SIGOURNEY – Sigourney Junior/Senior High held a Veterans Day event on Nov. 11, featuring music, a reading of “In Flanders Fields,” and a speech from Sigourney alumn and retired United States Army Major Eric Dolash. Dolash enlisted in the Army National Guard in 2000, when he was 18, and trained as a combat medic. He was deployed in Iraq from 2003, in Egypt in 2008, and served as an infantry battalion physician’s assistant from 2014 to 2020, when he took company command of the 294th Area Support Medical Company. Dolash retired in 2024 and currently works as a dermatology PA in Waverly.
“Sitting before me today are two groups of people I have nothing but admiration for, and that’s the veteran population, and it’s Savages. My wife can attest to it, we talk about Sigourney at least three, four times a day,” said Dolash. “It’s still my favorite place in the world. It’s got a special place in my heart. So I thought about my time growing up in the best town in America, and I thought about my 24 years in the service, and thought, How did these two link, having these meld? What’s going to be the message? And it kind of became evident to me, after some thought, that my success in the military would have never happened if it weren’t for growing up in this town. And the reason is because I learned here one simple message, which is, actions lead to merit. Actions lead to merit. Actions.”
“These legends sitting right here today, these heroes, they’re not being recognized with their own holiday just because of things that they talked about doing,” Dolash said. “They didn’t just talk about joining the military. They didn’t just talk about taking 24 hour lot shifts with sideways rain and not an inch of clothing on their bodies still being dry. They didn’t talk about running towards gunshots when everybody else would run away, they didn’t talk about protecting the country. They did.”
“These brave men and women are our finest because of their actions, because of what they did for each one,” continued Dolash. “Each one started by signing an oath that they would defend and protect the Constitution of the United States of America, no matter what. From there, they missed countless weeks, months and sometimes years, away from home, away from their families, the comfort of their families and homes. Many missed the sound of their kids running down the stairs on Christmas Day, many ate near inedible meals on Thanksgiving in some remote corner, dangerous part of the world. Their training was exhausting, their missions were perilous, and the stakes could not have been higher, and they completed them all with dignity, humility and a purpose greater than themselves. Every one of these veterans sitting in front of us today has a story that would humble each of us. Our opinion of these citizens aren’t based on what they said they were going to do, but rather what they actually did. Their actions. Never come to someone with a problem, unless you have a solution. Actions matter. Our actions lead to merit.”
After Dolash spoke, Quilts of Valor were presented to local veterans Robert Beinhart, James Stanley Echelberry, Thomas Sereg, Rick Tollenaar and Richard Kerkove. These quilts were sewn by Janet Martin, Angel Dale, Deb Clarahan, Kathy Davidson, Merla Morse, Donna Harms and Linda Fritchen.
The event concluded with a video featuring interviews from several local veterans, including Jenny Bell, Jim Stout, Amanda Kelly and Kyle Green. Especially moving was Stout’s interview, where he noted that some veterans come back in good shape, but some come back with pieces missing. “Whether it’s the tip of the spear, in a front line battle, or somewhere back guarding the supply line, they all went, did what they were told to do, and came home with something to be proud of,” Stout said.
A similar event was held at the elementary school, featuring a readers theater by sixth-graders, reading of two poems by first-graders, and singing by kindergarteners. Prior to the event, sixth grade students were tasked with interviewing veterans and writing essays. The five winning essayists were given quilts, sewn by Diane Peiffer and Christine Montgomery, to give to their veterans. Veterans receiving quilts include: Earl McKay, presented by Molly Collins; Bob Nicks, presented by Mathew Piper; Mike Hoss, presented by Ty Heisdorffer; Brandon Tretor, presented by Levy Boyles; and Marion Striegel, presented by Brielle Snakenberg.
Keota, Tri-County, Pekin and English Valleys also held Veterans Day events on Nov. 11.
