It was Veteran's Day at the Allen County Fair and hundreds showed up in observance. Each year, the Allen County Veterans Service Commission organizes a celebration where veterans from all branches and all eras get a chance to visit and reminisce about their time of service. Friday, those who received the purple heart were recognized and everyone heard about a new group for peer support.

The Fort Jennings community kick off Fort Fest by dedicating two veterans’ projects.  After three years, Freedom Square is officially competed.   The project was to create not only a structure for the community to use, but a memorial to honor all the men and women that served and are serving in the united state military.   Thanks to state representative Jim Hoops, the project was able to get about a third of the funding from the state and then the residents stepped up and helped make the memorial a reality.

"His last act was heroic, but that is not what made him a hero." Those words spoken by Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost were echoed by others throughout Bluffton University's Sommer Hall, where a funeral service was held for fallen Bluffton Officer Dominic Francis. In the morning hours of March 31st, Officer Dominic Francis, 42-years-old, was struck and killed by a vehicle during a pursuit. The three suspects who were in the car are currently in custody.

Private First Class William J. Winchester was twenty years old when he was reportedly captured by the Volunteer Forces at Prisoner of War Camp #5. He later died as a prisoner of war (POW) on February 28th, 1951, as witnessed by another POW. It wasn't until 2019 when the Winchester Family received news that William's remains were properly identified. William's grandchildren as well as James' children were notified and proceeded to honor his legacy by holding a funeral service at Memorial park Cemetery on August 10th, 2021.

Members of the Military Order of the Purple Heart traveled from all over the state to attend the ceremony.