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Local veterans receive congressional awards for their service

Morris Daily Herald - 8/10/2017

Aug. 10--Veterans receiving a congressional veteran award stand at attention as the honor guard displays the American flag and the pledge of allegiance is recited.

Megan Schuller

Caption

Veterans receiving a congressional veteran award stand at attention as the honor guard displays the American flag and the pledge of allegiance is recited.

OTTAWA -- A crowd packed City Hall chambers last Thursday to stand in honor of the 15 local veterans who received congressional commendations.

Each veteran was nominated for the commendation based on their civic and military service.

Rep. Adam Kinzinger, District 16, saluted each man before handing out the commendations to the veterans of his district.

"I'm a veteran, so it's always neat to see the different generations," Kinzinger said. "You have the 98-year-old who served in World War II and you have the young lady who served in the recent wars. You see the traits that really unite them."

Scott Buennemeyer of Marseilles spent 20 years in the Air Force. He is a retired master sergeant, current Veterans of Foreign Wars commander of Marseilles and an officer in a local American Legion post.

"I think a lot of us veterans feel like we need to give back to the community because we remember the guys and the women who didn't come back," Buennemeyer said.

Buennemeyer said it was a special day in particular for him because Lou Lawson, one of the men from his unit that he led in Operation Desert Storm, came to support him.

"I would drive double the mileage because he's gone above and beyond for us," Lawson said. "The friendships we forged don't break apart."

Although most of the veterans knew that they were nominated for the award because they had to supply documents, a review process was in place to see whether they would be a selected. For Irving Dewald of Coal City, who spent 20 years in the Navy, the unexpected news came as a shock.

"I was surprised. My granddaughter saw the mail and said 'Grandpa, you must be important, you got something from the government,' " Dewald said.

Many of the honorees are members of the honor guard (which honors

service members at any ceremony, such as welcome home ceremonies and funerals), are involved in their

local VFW or American Legion posts, or are active in their community

in the church or civic work such

as police work.

"The other really cool thing is that when they come out of service, they don't just stop doing stuff," Kinzinger said. "The military teaches you to stay involved, so people stay involved in these veterans organizations and in the community."

Alan Love of Morris is a member of multiple veterans organizations within the community such as the VFW, American Legion, the Grundy County honor guard and Marine Core League detachment 1372. Love served from 1965 to 1969 as a helicopter mechanic, crew chief and gunner, and has served 30 years for the Morris police.

"I'm excited being selected for a congressional award. It's quite an honor," Love said.

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KNOW MORE:

Below is a full list of all who received commendations.

Sergeant David S. Buennemeyer of Marseilles

Private First Class William J. Butzen of Ottawa

Captain Thomas M. Craig of Streator

Chief Petty Officer Irving F. DeWald of Coal City

Chief Warrant Officer Four John "Jack'' A. Leininger of Marseilles

Master Sergeant Ashley "Dave'' C. Davis of Rockford

Sergeant Kelly Frey of Kankakee

Sergeant Steven M. Huettemann of Morris

Staff Sergeant Wm. Walter Lochbaum of Streator

Sergeant Alan D. Love of Morris

Petty Officer Third Class James A. Rissman of Sheridan

Petty Officer Third Class Robert T. Rogers of Morris

Specialist Four Randal E. Rosengren of Ottawa

Sergeant Eric W. Sampson of Morris

Airman Third Class Timothy K. Stratton of Poplar Grove

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(c)2017 the Morris Daily Herald (Morris, Ill.)

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