Harman honored as vets service officer

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

It seemed to be “State Officials Day” in Van Wert on Tuesday, with both Ohio Lieutenant Governor Mary Taylor and Thomas N. Moe, director of the Ohio Department of Veterans Services, in town.

Moe, a retired U.S. Air Force colonel who spent five years as a POW after his F-4 Phantom jet was shot down while on a combat mission over North Vietnam in 1968, has earned 24 awards and decorations, including two Silver Stars, the Defense Superior Service Medal, two Legions of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star for valor, two Purple Hearts, and seven Air Medals.

Moe spoke with local Veterans Service Commission officials and sought to gain input from them on what can be done at the state level to improve veterans’ services in Van Wert County.

Among the topics discussed was the declining membership of service organizations, such as the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Amvets and Disabled American Veterans and the impact that has on veterans’ services, and what can be done to get more veterans involved in helping provide more money for such services.

Moe, who is a life member of the Lancaster VFW and Amvets posts, decried the decreasing membership, but also noted that often it’s the older members of a service organization who don’t feel they have anything in common with younger soldiers, who fail to seek them out for membership.

He also said posts that condone smoking and feel their bars are their most important asset are missing the boat, when it comes to making new members welcome.

Moe also noted that getting more veterans to at least sign up with the Veterans Administration — even if they don’t need VA services now — is crucial to funding state veterans’ programs, since the VA provides $3,000 in annual funding for each veteran that signs up.

Although his stated purpose in visiting Van Wert was to communicate with the local Veterans Service Commission, Moe also brought a special certificate from Ohio Governor John Kasich for Veterans Service Officer Keith Harman, who is retiring after more than 20 years in that post.

“If anyone exemplifies service to our veterans, it’s Keith,” Moe said while presenting the certificate to Hamman.

Hamman also spoke briefly, saying he had enjoyed his more than 20 years as the county veterans service officer and said he planned to continue to volunteer in some capacity to help veterans after his retirement.