It’s always a special day when the community is given an opportunity to gather and honor the courageous individuals who have fought for the safety of our country. On Friday, November 10 Valpo Parks honored our community’s veterans during its 20th annual Veterans Day Celebration. Veterans, their families, and leaders from all throughout Valparaiso gathered at the Service Memorial in Foundation Meadows for a moving ceremony that swelled everyone’s pride in our country and community.
Valpo Parks’ Veterans Day Celebration never fails to touch people’s hearts, but this year’s celebration was especially meaningful. Valpo Parks and several of the community’s loyal veterans have officially held the celebration for 20 years. The grandiosity of this achievement was missed by no one.
“Anytime you hit a milestone like this it’s worth celebrating. We’ve been doing this for 20 years and a lot of the original committee members who were responsible for organizing this are still a part of it. It’s extremely special to be celebrating here with them, honoring them, and honoring our veterans,” said Kevin Nuppnau, parks director.
The event started with the Valparaiso Police Department’s Honor Guard presenting the Colors. Then, Lenny Corso, a Vietnam veteran who served as a Green Beret medic from 1966 to 1969 took to the stand. He shared what Veteran’s Day means to him personally after experiencing great loss during his service.
“I lost four friends in Vietnam. Three of them died before the age of 24. On days like today, I think of them often. I am very blessed to have the mental and physical capacity to honor them on days like this,” said Corso.
Corso also shared how incredible it was to see so many people attend the event, eager to honor veterans and their service. When Corso came back from his service in Vietnam, he and his fellow soldiers were not welcomed back home with the same level of respect and pride that we show our veterans today. Seeing this shift in attitude towards the military means everything to Corso, and he can’t explain to everyone enough how important it is to remember the people who have fought for us.
“Every individual who has earned the title of veteran has made significant contributions to secure the freedoms we enjoy in our country. We must always remember that our ability to stand here safe and free is not something to be taken lightly,” said Corso.
Valparaiso Mayor Matt Murphy also gave a speech, reinforcing the importance of honoring our veterans as well as all of the first responders who keep our community safe.
“It’s important on this day to also honor those who guard our public safety. We thank the men and women of the Valparaiso police and fire departments directed by police chief Andrew McIntyre and fire chief Chad Dutz. On behalf of the city of Valparaiso, I express our appreciation for all that these public servants do to ensure our community is a safe place for all,” said Murphy.
After Murphy and Corso shared a few words, veterans Rick Staresina, Jim Spanopoulos, and Doug Pierce came forward to read the names of the countless Valparaiso soldiers who lost their lives defending our country. Each name hung heavily in the air, reminding everyone of just how lucky they are to have such brave individuals protecting their freedoms.
“It makes you realize just how many people have sacrificed their lives for our country. A lot of them are friends, family, and neighbors, so it really hits close to home when those names are read aloud. It makes you appreciate the things that we get to have here in Valparaiso,” said Nuppnau.
Valpo Parks’ 20th annual Veterans Day Celebration was ultimately the perfect way to honor our community’s veterans. Everyone was grateful to take part in such a meaningful event.
“I could not be more proud of Porter County and Valparaiso. We are so blessed to be living in a community like this that supports the military and our first responders. The parks and recreation department and the Kiwanis and rotary clubs all do a great job of supporting veterans,” said Corso.
It’s important to keep in mind, though, that remembrance goes beyond just one day’s celebration. The Valpo Parks team encourages everyone to continue to find ways to remember America’s heroes throughout their daily lives.
“Today is a day to remember, but I hope this celebration encourages everyone to remember our veterans every day, not just today. This is such a special place that a lot of people put time and energy into and I hope they come back and bring others to this fountain to read the names on the walls and reflect on what it means,” said Nuppnau.
To learn more about Valpo Parks, visit www.valpoparks.org.