Veterans welcome Ohio commander

SMITHFIELD - Louis Dimmerman, commander of the American Legion Department of Ohio, visited Fort Friendship Wednesday and spent some time with local veterans as the Jefferson County Veterans Association celebrated Veterans Day at Friendship Park.

Dimmerman said he was honored and proud to be a part of the ceremony.

"I look at today as a day of celebration. We are celebrating the veterans who are alive and out doing things in the community," Dimmerman said.

The ceremony, which included a 21-gun salute and the raising of flags for each branch of the military, was attended by members of various American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars posts in the community. Members of Wintersville Post 557, Steubenville 33, Dillonvale 529, Brilliant 573, Smithfield 396, Mount Washington, Society of Purple Hearts, Korean War Veterans Post 70 and Piney Fork 791 were present.

Dimmerman noted Veterans Day should be an "honor for living veterans from the greatest generation to the latest generation."

He also urged veterans to stay active in their community.

"If you are here today, I already know you are active in your community," he said. "I would like to see local veterans add eight hours of service each year to their routine."

In closing, Dimmerman left the veterans with one thought.

"Do all the good you can, in every which way you can, to all the people you can, wherever you can."

(Looman can be contacted at jlooman@heraldstaronline.com.)