This past weekend, OCSEA members gathered for the 2024 OCSEA Veterans Committee Conference at the Mohican Lodge and Conference Center. This year’s conference theme was “From Service to Solidarity: Unions Empowering Veterans.” Each year, the Veterans Conference honors all OCSEA veterans, past and present. The 2024 Veterans Conference was a perfect reminder of how important veterans are in the fabric of our communities and within our union. Click below to watch video highlights of the conference.
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This year’s conference kicked off on Saturday with an opening from OCSEA Veterans Committee Chair Doug Korba (Navy) welcoming brother and sister veterans and supporters. We honored our nation with the Ohio Dept. of Corrections Honor Guard’s Presentation of Colors. Veterans Committee members also helped honor our veterans. Jeff Condo (Marines) led the Pledge of Allegiance and Eric Kusky (Navy) led the Missing Man Table Ceremony.
OCSEA President Chris Mabe (Army) welcomed the first guest speaker of the morning, Krystol Mayer (Navy), the Lead Veteran Service Officer at the Lorain County Veterans Service Commission. “I was trained as a Service Officer, and that’s where my passion for helping veterans with their benefits became important to me,” Mayer said. She explained how to navigate getting help from your local Veterans Service Commission, and fielded questions from members. Mayer also spoke about REVS 22 (Race to End Veterans Suicide), a 2.2 mile race hosted by the Lorain County Veterans Service Commission.
The next speaker was Dept. of Veterans Services Director Deborah Ashenhurst (Army). Ashenhurst spoke about the importance of remembering the meaning of Veterans Day, and about reaching out to young people about veterans’ stories. “For some people, Veterans Day is just that day off. I want to encourage you to reach out to those who don’t know a veteran. A lot of young people don’t have that connection anymore, they don’t hear about the good parts of being a veteran. We need to tell that story,” she said.
The final speaker of the morning was Judge Guy Reece, a retired Colonel of the US Army and the recipient of many service awards including the Bronze Star. Reece is also a retired judge of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas. He was introduced by his daughter Cynthia Watiker, Franklin County Job and Family Services chapter 2508 member. Judge Reece’s family was beaming with pride as he spoke about his experience in the service, and the connection between veterans and unions. “After military service, it is very important that we continue to serve in our communities so that they can be whole. If we’re not doing those things, then we’re not doing our duties as veterans,” he said. “You can show courage by being teachers, volunteers, looking out for each other… As a military member, we work together to accomplish our mission. We have the courage to work together.”
In the afternoon, attendees heard from Samuel Swoger III, 9th District 1st Vice Commander of District/Mahoning County American Legion. Swoger was introduced by Eric Kusky, who stressed the importance of veterans’ organizations such as American Legion and the VFW. Swoger said, “American Legion is a family, just like OCSEA. We’re involved with our community, we’re here to help veterans and their families, to educate them. I want you folks to remember to join an organization.”
The conference wrapped up with the Larry Cremeens Veteran Service Award ceremony presented by Pres. Mabe and Doug Korba. The first award winner was Matthew Keating of SOCF Chapter 7330. Keating was awarded a first-time combination award: the Veteran of the Year and Supporter of the Year award, due to his nominations and unique qualifications for both categories. Keating was unable to attend, so SOCF members, April Duckworth and Landon Conley accepted the award in his honor. The second award winner was Stephan Massey of Chapter 3180 – Summit Behavioral Healthcare. Massey was honored with the Larry Cremeens Annual Veteran of the Year Award. He was nominated for this award by not one, but two of his chapter members. Congratulations to Matthew and Stephan!