By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
When Memorial Day rolls around every year, people are just itching to fire up their grills, break out the cornhole boards, or tee up at the golf course.
To those who put those pleasures on hold Monday morning in Bowling Green, retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Andrea Adams expressed her thanks.
Adams acknowledged those sitting along the parade route, and those circling the Oak Grove Cemetery mound, offering their thanks to lives lost in service to the nation. There were children waving small flags, scouts with hands over their hearts, band members playing the national anthem, and veterans saluting the fallen.
The parade marched through downtown Bowling Green, pausing at the Wood County Courthouse for a gun salute by Civil War reenactors of the 14th Ohio Volunteer Infantry.
The parade continued to Oak Grove Cemetery, where the fallen were revered.
“Today we pause to honor the American troops that did not get to come home and drink a beer at a homecoming party,” said retired U.S. Army Col. Greg Robinette.
More than 1 million U.S. military members have died in service to the nation, he said.
“We are the beneficiaries of their service,” Robinette said. “All gave some. Some gave all. May we always remember.”
When introducing Adams, the keynote speaker at the cemetery Monday morning, Robinette recalled their military paths crossing in the past.
“I had the honor of serving with Lt. Adams in the Middle East,” he said.
Adams enlisted in the Army in 1993, as a Signals Intelligence Analyst, and served in the 504th Military Intelligence Brigade, Fort Hood, Texas, and the 532nd Military Intelligence (MI) Battalion, 501st MI Brigade Camp Humphreys, Korea.
After her four-year enlistment, Adams transitioned into the Ohio Army National Guard Medical Detachment as a combat medic while attending nursing school at the University of Toledo. In 2002, she earned her bachelors of science in nursing and in 2003 received her direct commission into the Army Nurse Corps where she continued to serve in the Ohio National Guard Medical Detachment.
In 2012, she continued her civilian education and earned her masters of science in nursing from the University of Toledo Nursing School and received her Family Nurse Practitioner license. Her deployments include an Ohio Army National Guard Medical support mission to El Salvador in 2009 and to Kuwait in 2013 with the Ohio Army National Guard’s 371st Sustainment Brigade in support of Operation Joint Endeavor.
Adams, who lives in Bowling Green with her husband, retired Col. Stephen Ledbetter, retired from the Ohio Army National Guard in 2020 with 27 years of Army service. Her awards and decorations include the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, Meritorious Service Medal and the Overseas Service Ribbon.
Adams is one of a handful of women to serve the role of keynote speaker at the Bowling Green Memorial Day program over the years.
She talked about the importance of showing up to remember those who gave their lives – to put the day’s pleasantries on hold to reflect on the sacrifices by men and women who never came home.
“They were family members, high school athletes,” Adams said. “They had plans for the future,” but their country called and they responded.
“It’s important to remember those who paved the way for us,” she said.
Also offering words on Monday was Madeline Desmond, of Bowling Green, who was the VFW Voice of Democracy Award winner with her poem, “Why is the Veteran Important.” She spoke of trauma, loss and sacrifices that others cannot fully grasp.
Military service is the “physical embodiment of selfless love,” Desmond said.
She spoke of courage, heroism, strength and patriotism – making it possible for them to leave all they loved to fight for their country.
“Veterans carry a heavy burden,” being confronted with unfathomable decisions, Desmond said. “They have seen atrocities that cannot be described.”
Also at the Memorial Day program, patriotic songs were performed by the Bowling Green High School Band, and vocalist Evvie Van Vorhis sang the “Armed Forces Medley” and “Let There Be Peace on Earth.” Father Tom McQuillen, pastor of St. Aloysius Catholic Church, served as chaplain. Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address was recited by Mayor Michael Aspacher, and Logan’s Orders was presented by Joe Fawcett, veteran of the Global War on Terrorism.
Wreaths were laid on the mound in the center of Oak Grove Cemetery, honoring those who gave their lives in the Fallen Timbers Battlefield, Civil War, World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, War on Terrorism, and in honor of the American Legion Auxiliary.
