First Sgt. Swanson says veterans are the heroes

First Sergeant Greg Swanson said the men and women who dedicated their lives to serving their country are the real heroes during Bloomfield School District hosted its annual Veterans Day program Friday afternoon.

Swanson has been a member of the Indiana Army National Guard since 1994, is a member of the 387th Military Police Company and has been deployed three times. He is also an Indiana Conservation Officer, servicing Greene County.

Swanson, a Purple Heart recipient, stressed the importance of recognizing veterans because even though some of their scars may not be visible, most still have scars.

He received the Purple Heart after a 2012 ambush on the armored truck in which he was riding in Afghanistan. Swanson referred to the day of the attack as the worst day of his life.

Swanson had shrapnel in his leg. Some had broken bones, one man was blinded and another lost his life -- Specialist Arronn Fields.

“When I got to the hospital that night, I had to throw away all of my clothes -- including my underwear and socks -- because they were soaked in blood. Not my blood, but the blood of my fallen comrade.

“Here’s my point, when I walk down the street, I don’t have physical scars. I don’t walk with a limp. But, I have scars, oh, do I have scars. There is not a day that goes by that I don’t think of Arronn Fields. Not one day,” Swanson stressed.

He went on to explain why he shared the story of the worst night of his life: To better make people understand not all scars are visible.

“There are veterans out here sitting in these chairs that don’t limp and don’t have visible scars, but you can’t fathom what they have seen or what they have been through. What I went through is nothing in comparison to what some of them went through,” Swanson said.

“Don’t let them walk away from you without thanking them or shaking their hand for what they’ve been through ... A missed opportunity today may be a missed opportunity forever.”

Swanson stressed that men and women who have donned a military uniform to protect the American freedoms we cherish are the true heroes. They sacrificed so much, he said.

Swanson thanked the veterans of World War II, Korean War, Vietnam, the First Gulf War and even those who were never deployed.

Too often, Swanson said he hears veterans who were not deployed say they “didn’t do anything,” but he stressed this is not true. Working to uphold our freedoms does not have to be done in a combat zone.

“Today is not combat veterans day. Today is Veterans Day,” Swanson stressed.

The Bloomfield Veterans Day Program also included another special presentation. Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps Commander Mike Cluver led Abby Query, a 2015 Bloomfield School District graduate, in a Ceremonial Swearing In. Query is joining the Navy, and was honored to have the commander swear her in at the program.

Query’s father, Ted, was also in attendance for the swearing in. He is a 1985 Bloomfield graduate and an Air Force Veteran.

Cmdr. Cluver also led the students and those in attendance in a candle-lighting ceremony. Battery-powered votive candles were give to students and patrons throughout the gym.

Once the lights in the gym were momentarily shut off, 206 lights shone brightly in the dark. Cluver explained each of the candles was in memory of the 206 Hoosier veterans who lost their life in the War on Terror.