The 2019 Veterans Day program began with the Jasper County Junior High band performing for the audience. The JCJH Band is directed by Jeffrey Finley, The invocation was given by Eric Bridges, Minister of the Latona Church of Christ. The Star Spangled Banner was performed by Sara Bartis, Charlotte Schackmann, Isaac Street, and Karasyn Martin.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by the Jasper County Boy and Girl Scouts followed by a performance of the “Ballad of the Green Berets” by Five for the One whose members are Vicki Keller, Mike Dasenbrock, Julie French, Cathy Lewis, and Kenny Yager.
The guest speaker for the event was Major Robert Doss, USMC Retired. Major Rob Doss enlisted in the Marine Cops in February 1975, at the age of 17, a month after he graduated from Newton Community High School. He served as an enlisted infantryman with the 2nd, 8th, and 9th Marine Regiments, rising to the rank of staff sergeant (E-6) before he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1983. He was designated a Naval Aviator in 1985 then served as a CH-46E assault helicopter pilot with three squadrons – HMM-365, HMM-263, and HMM-162 – on four overseas deployments. In 1991, he flew a nighttime raid to rescue diplomats in Mogadishu, Somalia during Operation Eastern Exit then two weeks later flew combat missions during Operation Desert Storm in the Middle East. In 1996, he led an airborne reconnaissance mission in Bosnia -Herzegovina during Operation Decisive Endeavor and then served as the aviation mission commander for the reinforcement of the besieged American embassy in Monrovia, Liberia where he later flew dozens of additional missions during Operation Assured Response. During his career, he also served as a helicopter flight instructor and was the commanding officer of Aviation Maintenance Squadron 1.
Among his military decorations are the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal for valor, two Air Medals, for meritorious action in combat, three Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, and the Combat Action Ribbon. He retired from the Marine Corps in 1998 after nearly 24 years of service.
Major Doss currently resides in Pensacola, Florida are with his wife of 38 years, Christina, the daughter of a career Marine. Their son Robert III is a Marine Major who served two tours in Iraq and is stationed at Quantico, Virginia. Their son Bryan is a Major in the Marine Corps Reserves; he served two tours on active duty in Afghanistan and resides in Washington DC. Rob’s father, sister, and brother are all former Marines. He has a nephew and a niece who are Navy veterans and a nephew who is an Army veteran.
Major Doss spoke to the crowd about Veterans Day and the impressive ceremony Jasper County holds along with the warm welcome Jasper County gives to soldiers returning and the support provided during service time.
The Volleys were fired by Jasper County Veterans. Taps and Echo taps were played by Clayton and Nicholas Beavers.
The Five for the One performed the final song of the ceremony “Where Have all the Flowers Gone”, followed by the benediction by Pastor Ron Mulvey from Potter’s House Ministry. The Master of Ceremonies for the event was Chad Miller.
Kaleb Beavers shared his collection of military uniforms by displaying them at the American Legion during the annual ham and bean dinner following the ceremony.
