THOMASVILLE—A light sprinkle outside did not keep students, officials, and residents from honoring the contributions of local veterans on Monday. The Veterans of Foreign Wars Allen—Cook Post 4995 paid tribute to all of Thomasville and Thomas County’s veterans at the Historic Courthouse.

The crowd was greeted by Commander John Bojanac (Lt Col, USAF ret.), who invited the Thomas County Central High School JROTC Color Guard to present the colors.

Following the Pledge of Allegiance, VFW Chaplain Johnnie Clark (SSG U.S. Army ret.) opened with prayer, before turning the microphone back over to Bojanac.

“As a veteran, I stand before you with a profound sense of pride, humility, and gratitude,” he said. “I’ve been where many of you fellow service members have been in serving our country with unwavering dedication, and I’ve faced the many challenges that come with it.”

Bojanac said Veterans Day holds a special place in his heart, just as it does with every man and woman who has worn the uniform before and after him.

“In a day that reminds us of the commitment we made to defend the principles of freedom, liberty, and justice, it’s also a reminder of the days we spent away from home, the bonds formed with our brothers and sisters at arms, and the sacrifices made on both our native and foreign shores,” he said.

He told the crowd that Veterans Day is not just a day to express gratitude but should be a “touchstone for understanding” and education.

“I believe it’s our job as Veterans to make sure the true significance of this day isn’t lost in the noise of department store sales, or everyday life,” he said. “We must work to remind our nation that Veterans Day isn’t just another holiday on the calendar; it is a profound reminder of the commitment and sacrifice of all those who served at the painstaking high cost of freedom.”

Bojanac said as Veterans, he and many others have seen the harsh realities of war and conflict, but the lasting impact of service touched far more than just veterans, as it impacted the ones they love.

“We stood shoulder to shoulder during adversity, overcoming obstacles, which at times seemed insurmountable,” he said. “We lost friends and experienced the mental and physical wounds of war, and yet we continue to defend those values that define our nation.”

Bojanac reminded those in attendance that every American reaps the benefits of service and sacrifice made by veterans, who believe in something greater than themselves.

“The true meaning of Veterans Day must be projected beyond parades, schools, assemblies, and memorials,” Bojanac said. “It’s about telling the veteran’s story and the lessons we have learned. Every veteran takes away a different life lesson from the time they served.”

Bojanac said it is up to veterans to remind those who may not understand the lives they have lived and how high the cost of freedom truly is.

Guest speaker Heather Stephens (Captain, U.S. Army) understood the high cost of freedom and the painful reality of suicide among veterans when their years in the service come to a close.

Stephens currently serves in the Georgia National Guard and has served for over 20 years in four different states in engineer, infantry, quartermaster, and maneuver company. She has been on two overseas deployments, including one to Iraq, along with multiple stateside missions. Her diverse role led her to her civilian career as a suicide prevention coordinator with the Department of Veterans Affairs.

To help the audience understand the impact veteran suicide has had on her life, Stephens spoke on a few fellow officers who helped her develop in her military and professional career.

“Jake was my recruiter, and it was fairly easy,” she recalled. “I had always known I wanted to join the National Guard and follow in my father’s footsteps. Josh was my other recruiter, and from Josh, I learned the military will put you behind any wheel and tell you to drive, whether you’re able to or not.”

After Josh came home from deployment, he was home for a little less than a year, before dying by suicide.

“He was one of the most outgoing, jovial, life of the party people, and he made me glad to join the military,” Stephens said. “I would continue my career and in 2007, I would be deployed to Iraq where Darren was my squad leader.”

Affectionately known as the “Papa” of the group, Darren had grandchildren Stephens’ age and was one of the best engineers she had come across during her time thus far.

“He had a tough appearance and strong leadership style, but he always put that aside and took the time to mentor me,” Stephens said. “I was only one of four females in the platoon and he didn’t go easy on me.”

After the conclusion of their deployment, Darren was deployed to Afghanistan, where he and another soldier were killed by an IED.

Stephens finally spoke about Dan and Corey, who were with her during her deployment to Kosovo.

“That was one of the best experiences of my life,” she recalled. “Corey and Dan were two great NCOs, a wealth of knowledge, combat veterans from Iraq, and competed to be the life of the party in our unit.”

Dan would unfortunately die by suicide, following that deployment. Corey would deploy two more times after the deployment to Kosovo, before later dying by suicide earlier this spring.

“I know this is supposed to be a time of celebration for our service, but I would be remiss if I didn’t bring attention to these four who are so much a part of my story,” she said. “They’ve all experienced my civilian and military career.”

Stephens pleaded for people to understand that when individuals return from service, they’ve earned the title of “veteran,” and should be embraced.

“Connection is one of the biggest ways of preventing suicide,” she said.

Additional guest speaker Eric Gossett (Sgt, USMC) understood that need, as he said the hardest day of his life was the day he stepped back into civilian life.

Gossett was deployed to Afghanistan where he led combat missions. After his service, he moved to Thomasville, where he currently serves as the Assistant Utilities Superintendent for the City of Thomasville.

“This is an honor to speak in my hometown,” he said. “I graduated from Thomas County Central and am thankful to see my friends here.”

Gossett said he had several defining moments in his life, which began in Thomasville.

“The day I met my wife was the happiest day of my life,” he said. “I met her at a basketball court at Remington Park. Shortly after, I joined the Marine Corps.”

While serving, Gossett married his wife in Thomasville. But, in 2013, Gossett went through a series of events that changed his life forever.

“I went through something so horrible that it changed my life,” he said. “Later on I would experience other tragedies.”

In 2014, Gossett’s son was born and he was thrilled, but after living through all he had seen his worst day was transitioning out of the Marine Corps., saying it was hard to cope.

“This is my life, and I survived it, so you can share it with other veterans in your life who have gone through similar experiences,” Gossett said. “If you are still battling the unseen battle, there are resources that can help you. Veterans like myself can help you; you’ve come too far to lose the battle. Life is too precious.”

Bojanac thanked Gossett and Stephens for their courage in sharing their story, before asking Clark to close the ceremony in prayer.