As I reflected on my submission for the Local Heroes special section, I first turned to the definition of a “hero” — a person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements or noble qualities.
Through the course of my lifetime, I have witnessed many acts of courage and valor performed by fellow Marines, fellow public safety officers and citizens.
Toledo Mayor D. Michael Collins.
While public safety professionals run toward danger as opposed to backing away from it, one common bond everyone can share with those we define as heroes is the willingness to do something above and beyond what is required on behalf of a fellow human being. The act of a child standing up for another child who is being bullied, a block watch member standing up to suspected criminals — these types of actions take place in our community, most times with no recognition.
We have community members who volunteer to mentor, to coach and to provide myriad volunteer efforts such as Mobile Meals of Toledo. Recently our community faced a do not consume order for water; there was no panic, no acts of violence. Instead, people volunteered to help distribute water while others showed up to donate.
To quote one of our deputy chiefs, “They were like angels; right when it looked as if we were running out of water, a vehicle would appear with donated water to distribute.” The world was watching our community and they saw the essence of Toledo — a city of compassion that faced those days with courage and resilience that is deserving of recognition.
I offer my congratulations to those named in the Local Heroes section, but I would also like to offer my congratulations and admiration to the citizens of Toledo. Residents, businesses and employees of the City of Toledo endured one of the worst winters in our history as well as the recent water issue with a spirit of brotherly concern. Every day it is demonstrated why the motto “You will do better in Toledo” is just as true today as when it was first created decades ago.
I applaud you and I thank you — it is an honor and a privilege to serve as your mayor.
D. Michael Collins was elected mayor of Toledo in 2013. He was appointed to the Toledo Police Department and served for 27 years, including his last 10 years as the elected president of the Toledo Police Patrolman’s Association. Throughout his career, he received numerous letters of recognition for excellence in police service, and in 1997 was awarded the Professional Service Award by the Toledo Police Department. Email him at[email protected].
Inspired
by our annual Military Yearbook special section, Toledo Free Press wanted to also honor the heroes serving here in
the community as local police officers, firefighters, paramedics, EMTs,
sheriff’s deputies, highway patrol officers, volunteer firefighters and more.
Perhaps it shouldn’t have come as a surprise, but many first-responders we
talked to were extremely humble and modest about their service. Many,
especially police officers, shied away from the spotlight and declined to be
interviewed or photographed. However, it was obvious in each case how much they
cared about their community and how rewarding they fond their career. In many
cases, their families were not as shy about calling attention to the honor they
deserve and many submitted the photos you see here. We hope this small sample
of the thousands of area men and women on call to keep us safe night and day serves
as our way of saying thank you to each of you for your service, your dedication
and your sacrifice.
—Sarah Ottney, Managing Editor
Cedar Point
First-responders, including firefighters, police officers and EMTs, can save
$17 off one-day regular admission to Cedar Point through Sept. 1. The offer is
available only at the park ticket windows and a valid work ID must be shown to
receive the discount.
Firefighters Mass The eighth
annual Firefighters Mass will be held at the Historic Church of St. Patrick,
130 Avondale, at 10 a.m. Sept. 14. Monsignor Christopher Vasko will celebrate
the Mass. All area firefighters and their families are invited to attend Mass
and brunch at The Blarney Irish Pub, 601 Monroe St., immediately following. The
first Mass honoring firefighters was held in 2007 when Father Dennis Hartigan
dedicated the church to firefighters whom he credited with saving the church
from a 1980 fire caused by a lightening strike. The church now contains an
altar shrine dedicated to St. Florian, the patron saint of firefighters.
Chief Josh Drouard Rossford Fire Department Served in every rank: Firefighter/Paramedic, Lieutenant, Captain, Asst. Fire Chief and Fire Chief. Serving since Oct. 26, 1987.
Chief Josh Drouard
Capt. Tom Samson Rossford Fire DepartmentHasserved on and off the department since the 1980s, with current service since May 24, 1989.
Capt. Tom Samson
Matt Giles Sr. Rossford Fire Department Most senior member of the department, serving since Aug. 17, 1987. Previous served as lieutenant; now a Firefighter/EMT.
Matt Giles Sr.
Toledo Fire & Rescue ‘Fantastic Four’ Members of Toledo Firehouse 4 — or as they call themselves the “Fantastic Four!” From left, Lt. Bruce Cook, Pvt. John Harmon, Pvt. James White, Pvt. Eric Sherman, Chief Tim Clapp, Capt. Luke Harman, Pvt. Mike Pelechaty, Pvt. T.J. Romijn.
Members of Toledo FIRE STATION 4 — or as they call themselves the “Fantastic Four” — From left, Lt . Bruce Cook, Pvt. John Harmon, Pvt. James White, Pvt. Eric Sherman, Battalion Chief Tim Clapp, Capt . Luke Harman, Pvt. Mike Pelechat y, Pvt. T.J. Romijn.
Pvt. Harold Simms Toledo Fire Department, Station No. 4
Pvt. Harold Simms
Andrew “Andy” Iwinski Toledo Police Department Andy Iwinski was a familiar face in Downtown Toledo, directing traffic with a semaphore for decades, including on the corner of Superior and Jefferson, which became known as Andy’s Corner. He joined Toledo Police in 1922 and retired in 1968 after 46 years of service. He wore Badge No. 1, representing the longest-serving member of the department. More than 1,000 people, including the mayor, came to his retirement party. A cut-out photo of him signed by guests was donated to the Toledo Police Museum by his family.
Andrew “Andy” Iwinski
Andrew “Andy” Iwinski
“He was very popular,” daughter Evelyn Nowak said. “He was the old-fashioned kind who helped old women across the streets. He taught us kids to be servants because that was what he was, a servant to the people.” He died in 1971 at age 71.
Pvt. James Michael Moseby Toledo Fire Department We love you and are so proud of you.
Pvt. James Michael Moseby
Rudy Hanzel Firefighter/Paramedic withAllen-Clay Joint Fire District Always my hero! Love, Mandy
Rudy Hanzel
Tom Gates Portage Fire District Thank you for all that you do! Love, your friends
Tom Gates
Josh Maddox Frenchtown Fire Department Josh has served full time in the fire service for 13 years. We love our hero! Love, Your wife and children
Josh Maddox
William George Milliere Sylvania Fire Department, Retired Thank you for serving our community Dad. Your loving wife Judy; children Anne & Jim Valerio, Amy & Mike Pettit, Andy & Paulette Milliere, Abby & Andy Blakely; grandchildren Alex, Hans & Chad, Drew & Nicole, Jordon & Mallory, Jeffery, Jillian, Andrew, Autumn, Austin
William George Milliere
Ralph Green Lucas County Sheriff’s OfficeHas been a dedicated officer since 1988 with the Lucas County Sheriff’s Office. He retires on Aug. 31. Good luck.
Ralph Green
Deputy Chief Jim Rodriguez Perrysburg Township Fire Department Thank you to all the men and women who put their lives at risk every day to save others! And a big thank you to this guy right here, who truly is a hero! I’m proud to call you my Cootie! Love, Mandy
Deputy Chief Jim Rodriguez
Det. Keith T. Dressel Toledo Police Department Detective Keith Dressel was born on March 28, 1971, at Mercy St. Vincent Hospital. He joined Toledo Police Department on Dec. 10, 1993, where he was promoted to vice/narcotics unit 812. His end of watch was Feb. 21, 2007, when he was fatally shot in the line of duty. His number was retired in his honor. An annual memorial motorcycle ride was established in his honor, which provides a scholarship at Owens Community College each year. An annual blood drive on Feb. 21 is also held. He is missed and loved by his family.
Det. Keith T. Dressel
William Miscannon Toledo Police Department William Miscannon’s End of Watch was Sept. 18, 1970. He was shot while eating with his partner, Walter Shaw, in their paddy wagon. No one has been convicted of the crime. A scholarship fund at Owens Community College is named The Officer William Miscannon Scholarship Fund in Memory of Detective Keith Dressel. “I appreciate that dad is still remembered and honored,” said his daughter Diane Miscannon. “I am always glad to chat with someone who knew Dad as I was 10 when he was murdered and don’t have too many personal memories of him. Gone but not forgotten. Lest we forget. Justice delayed is justice denied.”
William Miscannon
Battalion Chief Orlando Gonzalez and Lt. Kari Gonzalez Husband and wife serving on Toledo Fire & Rescue Department. Toledo Free Press photo by Christie Materni
Battalion Chief Orlando Gonzalez and Lt. Kari Gonzalez
Capt. Mark Benadum and Capt. Mike Benadum Brothers serving on Toledo Fire & Rescue Department. Toledo Free Press photo by Aaron Geller
Capt. Mark Benadum and Capt. Mike Benadum
Steve Machcinski and Jamie Dickman Last Alarm Jan. 26, 2014
Toledo Police Athletic League (PAL)
Toledo Police Sgt. Mack Collins is director of the Toledo Police Athletic League, which offers boxing, basketball, baseball, golf, tennis, Lego club and academic tutoring. For more information, call (419) 266-9297, email [email protected] or visit toledopal.com.
Ohio State Highway Patrol
The Ohio State Highway Patrol earned two unique distinctions this year: Best-Dressed public-safety agency (in its category of between 2,000 and 3,000 officers) by the North American Association of Uniform Manufacturers & Distributors in April and Best-Looking Cruiser via a Facebook voting contest put on by American Association of State Troopers (AAST) in July. The cruiser, a silver Dodge Charger, will be featured on the cover of an upcoming Trooper Connection newsletter, the official publication of AAST.
Swanton Fire Department
At Swanton Fire Department, firefighter/paramedic Patty Brown and Fire Lt. Joe Buehrer pose with the department’s municipal water hookup and rows of donated bottled water to be given out during Toledo’s water emergency. Swanton Fire Department was among the local agencies offering free water during the Aug. 2-4 emergency. Though Swanton has its own municipal water system, customers of rural water systems that buy from Toledo were affected by the drinking ban. Toledo Free Press Photo by Don Lee
Oregon Fire Department
From left, firefighter Tom Baker; Fire Explorer Josh Ellis, 16, son of firefighter Mark Ellis; and Assistant District Chief Paul Limmer fill water jugs for area residents during Toledo’s water emergency on Aug. 3. Oregon has it’s own water plant and its water remained safe to drink. Toledo Free Press photo by Sarah Ottney
Perrysburg Fire Department
Perrysburg Fire Department firefighters at The Town Center at Levis Commons for the Levis Commons Fine Art Fair, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer 5K and “Fire Safety House” program. Photos Courtesy The Town Center at Levis Commons
Lucas County Sheriff’s Office
A Lucas County Sheriff’s Office deputy fingerprints a child at The Town Center at Levis Commons’ Fall Festiva.Photo Courtesy The Town Center at Levis Commons
Chris Hartford and Wayne Hartford Father and son serving with Toledo Fire & Rescue. Toledo Free Press photo by Christie Materni
Chris Hartford and Wayne Hartford
Greg Segura and Michael Segura (retired) Father and son serving with Toledo Fire & Rescue. Michael’s twin brother Alfred Segura was a Toledo police officer and his other brother Anthony Segura is also a Toledo firefighter. Toledo Free Press photo by Christie Materni
Greg Segura and Michael Segura (retired)
Jamie Ferguson and David Ferguson Father and son serving with Toledo Fire & Rescue. Jamie is a public education officer who gives community safety presentations. Toledo Free Press photo by Aaron Geller
Jamie Ferguson and David Ferguson
Jennifer Hill and John Leopold (retired) First father/daughter team to serve with Toledo Fire & Rescue and first second-generation firefighter/paramedic. John’s grandfather, Clarence Ehrsam, was also a Toledo firefighter. Toledo Free Press photo by Aaron Geller
Jennifer Hill and John Leopold (retired)
Battalion Chief Mike Nicely and Pat Nicely (retired) Father and son serving with Toledo Fire & Rescue. Pat’s cousin Greg Yingling is also a Toledo firefighter and his niece Lt. Kelly Russell is a Toledo police officer. Toledo Free Press photo by Christie Materni
Battalion Chief Mike Nicely and Pat Nicely (retired)
Lt. Tom Viertlbeck and Lt. Matt Viertlbeck Father and son serving with Toledo Fire & Rescue. Not pictured is Tom’s other son Andy Viertlbeck and Tom’s brother-in-law John Roesner (retired). Toledo Free Press photo by Aaron Geller
The 2014 Metroparks Autumn Adventure will kick off at 2 p.m. Aug. 31 with a free hike at Oak Openings Preserve in Swanton. For the 25th year, Metroparks of Toledo Area is challenging participants to hike any eight of 10 qualified trails. This challenge runs until Nov. 18.
“It’s become kind of a tradition,” said Scott Carpenter, director of public relations for the metroparks.
“You can pick from the 10 trails we have listed or you can pick any four trails in the metroparks to get to eight,” Carpenter said. “You can do them on your own or you can come to one of our scheduled walks with a group.”
There are 15 group hikes scheduled. Some of these hikes are free and others have a small cost.
A complete list of scheduled hikes and the registration form for participation are available at the website www.metroparkstoledo.com.
“The first 50 people to complete the challenge get a free T-shirt,” Carpenter said. “Every year we design a new Autumn Adventure graphic, and the shirts have become kind of a collector’s item. Some people do the program every year just to get the shirt.”
Carpenter said last year’s kickoff hike had nearly 50 participants.
“It’s all a wonderful excuse to get outside and enjoy the parks during the prettiest time of year,” he said.
Local musician Kerry Patrick Clark will play an acoustic set before the walk, starting at 1:30 p.m. Toledo Free Press Editor in Chief Michael S. Miller will lead the three-hour walk.
A mix of rock and Latin folk music, the sounds of the group named Radio Free Honduras — which will perform at Midwest Latino Fest on Aug. 30 — are the kind that both soothe and excite the soul. It’s a contrast that guitarist, co-founder and area native Dan Abu-Absi understands very well.
“One of my favorite things about this music is that it can be both incredibly beautiful and fun at the same time,” Abu-Absi said.
One of the rising names in the Latin music scene centered in Chicago, Radio Free Honduras has an amazing musical pedigree. In addition to Abu-Absi, whose work with groups like JT & the Clouds and Birds of Chicago put him on the map, the core of the group is Charlie Baran, a Honduran musical icon and guitar virtuoso who has carved out a remarkable reputation in over a quarter-century on the music scene, both here and in his native Honduras.
Baran rose to prominence in the early 1990s as a member of the group Banda Blanca, whose song “Sopa de Caracol” hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Latin Tracks charts. Baran would eventually relocate to the Windy City, which is where he first connected with Abu-Absi.
“I knew of Charlie from having seen him play in a previous group called Casolando,” Abu-Absi said. “When I moved to Chicago he was already my favorite guitar player there, and eventually I was fortunate enough to join that band, and when it fell apart I stayed in touch with Charlie.”
The emotional pull toward music started at a young age for Abu-Absi. “From a very early age I can remember being moved by music, so it always seemed like a natural thing for me to want to play music. But early on it was mostly just listening to great music — classic rock radio in particular,” he said.
After working together in a group called Grupo Gringo in 2011, Baran and Abu-Absi formed Radio Free Honduras with an eye on gathering some of the most talented and battle-tested Chicago musicians to bring Baran’s traditional Latin sounds myriad outside influences. (Two of the group’s members have also worked with Abu-Absi in previous bands.) Though Baran is the driving force behind the music and writes all the band’s original songs, Abu-Absi said that his own role is akin to a musical director’s.
“It’s different in a number of ways,” Abu-Absi said, contrasting his role in Radio Free Honduras to his work in previous bands. “But one thing in particular is the amount and level of discussion. In [JT &] the Clouds we have always operated as a sort of democracy, and everyone weighs in with their opinion on just about everything. Working with Charlie, things tend to come together on a more visceral level. We don’t argue. Ever.”
The group will bring its unity of sound and feeling to Midwest Latino Fest running 2-10 p.m. Aug. 30 at Promenade Park in Downtown Toledo. The members of Radio Free Honduras have plenty of experience entertaining fans in a festival setting: Beyond its members’ individual histories in music, the group also played Fiesta Del Sol — the largest Latino festival in the Midwest — in Chicago earlier this month.
“It’s great. Festival crowds are always fun, so we try to keep them happy and dancing,” Abu-Absi said. “We want to entertain. Hopefully people will have fun and experience the beauty of the performance.
There are many local heroes I could name in our bright city of Toledo, but two immediately come to mind. I would like to recognize Steve Machcinski and Jamie Dickman — two heroes who will forever be embedded in our hearts, two heroes who gave the absolute ultimate sacrifice, two firefighters, sons, fathers and uncles who can never be recognized enough.
When all are running away from danger, it is our call of duty, as firefighters, to run toward it. To protect and serve the citizens of our great city. Steve and Jamie gave their lives selflessly and courageously. It is my prayer that they and their families will always be remembered, never to be forgotten, and that the sisters and brothers on the Toledo Fire & Rescue Department will have a stronger-than-ever bond that will only increase in strength and unity. God bless Steve, Jamie and their families. God bless the Toledo Fire & Rescue Department.
The Women of Courage continue to move forward in recognizing diversity and embracing equality for all. One of our many goals is to create a quarterly open forum for women to express ideas, share professional information and address any areas of concern.
T-shirts and patches, which support the Toledo Firefighters Museum, can be ordered via email at [email protected]. Gina M. Shubeta, a Toledo firefighter since 2001, is one of the organizers of Women of Courage.
Gina M. Shubeta, a Toledo firefighter since 2001, is one of the organizers of Women of Courage
On behalf of the entire Toledo Pride committee and volunteers we would like to extend a huge thank you to the Toledo Free Press staff.
As the official media sponsor for the past four years the event has grown leaps and bounds with your allied support for the local LGBT community. The special thirty four page Pride Guide insert was totally amazing packed with so much news, information and pictures. By far the best pre coverage the event received.
Beyond the Toledo Pride event once a year we would also like to thank you for all the feature stories and coverage you give LGBT issues and events all year long. Toledo is currently without a LGBT magazine and you are the voice for our community.
We stand proud with the Toledo Free Press and thank you for the continued support and dedication in reaching equality for all LGBT people.
I don’t
know if it’s the water we drink that former Mayor Carty Finkbeiner famously
wanted to sell or maybe it’s the air we breathe, but there is something about Toledo
that changes its residents’ hearts.
In a
world with current headlines about violence, plane crashes and Kardashians, a
simple act of kindness by one of Toledo’s finest is the perfect distraction and
medicine any cardiologist would prescribe.
Tyler
Wiley is a pretty normal 22-year-old aspiring artist. His life revolves around
his work, his family and, of course, Facebook. What makes him unique is Tyler
has Down syndrome and Crohn’s disease. Like most people his age, his life is
pretty dependent on his cellphone. Sandy Wiley, Tyler’s mom stated in a message to the
Toledo Police Department “(Tyler’s) livelihood is his social media with his
cell phone. As he doesn’t have friends like you and I to go hang out.”
Then a
bad thing happened to Tyler, his cell phone came up missing; it’s believed that
someone stole his cell phone while he at work, making art.
In a
moment of frustration, Tyler’s mom shared the news of the lost phone on
Facebook. She was venting as any parent would, not knowing if her son misplaced
his favorite gadget or a possibly worse scenario. What she did know for sure
was the cost of the replacement phone: $150.
What
happened next would only happen in Toledo.
The
following day a Toledo Police cruiser drove up to the Wiley’s driveway. Tyler’s
mom was confused and a little alarmed when she spotted the police car. A Toledo
Police Department officer wearing his blues emerged from the car, I imagine his
heart was leading the way.
Mrs.
Wiley soon recognized the familiar face of the officer “she had not seen in years.”
Officer Otto Rectenwald, a 19-year veteran of the TPD, had met Tyler and his
mom about eight years earlier when he was a school resource officer.
After a
quick embrace and a confused expression, Officer Rectenwald reached not for his
firearm, not for a blank citation, but rather his wallet. He asked Sandy to put
out her hand; as she did, he placed $150 in cash on it and stated, “I know you
are going to replace Tyler’s phone, I would like to instead.”
Instant
tears rained down a mother’s face.
A few seconds
later, Tyler was being dropped off by his bus after a long day of creating art.
Equally confused about the patrol car in the driveway and his mom’s tears,
Tyler was reunited with an old acquaintance and some good news. Sandy showed
Tyler the money and told her son why the officer was there.
“Tyler
started crying and hugged Officer Otto at least 50 times,” his mom said,
choking up as she recalled the moment.
When Rectenwald
read Sandy’s Facebook post, he knew how important this cell phone was to this
young man, how affected he was by its disappearance and the strain $150 can
cause a family. The man who swore an oath to “protect and serve” decided to do
something above and beyond the call of duty that day.
Overwhelmed
by this random act of kindness, Tyler’s mom messaged the TPD’s Facebook
account, shared the story and attached the picture below.
The
humble officer wasn’t looking for any attention, zero tweets were sent; he got
back in his cruiser and proceeded to the next call.
Rectenwald,
whose job is often filled with life’s darkest moments, saw an opportunity to
right a wrong, so he did. He never thought his good deed would go public, he
was just doing what Toledoans and cops do best: pick somebody up when their
cards are down. Mission accomplished.
I was
able to connect with Sandy via the phone as she shared the heartwarming events
of that day; “I’ve been protecting Tyler from society for 22 years. … Then
someone in society does something like this. This instantly restored my faith
in humanity.”
Rectenwald
pulled a lot more than the $150 in cash from his back pocket, he pulled out
love from his heart and handed it to a deserving family at the time they needed
it the most.
Thank
you Officer Otto Rectenwald for not only being good police, but for being a
better person.
Jeremy Baumhower can be reached at
[email protected] or on Twitter @jeremytheproduc.
Liz Story and Lisa Downing. Photo courtesy of Vision Quest Entertainment.
Pianists Liz Story and Lisa Downing had a lot to say about the pressing nature of their instrument.
“If you’re studying harmony at a conservatory, you always
study it at a piano or a keyboard because there it is: It’s visually set out,
the relationship of this information,” Story said.
“The geometry is there, it’s black and white, nothing in
between,” Downing chimed in.
“It really is the piano, not the electric keyboard. A friend
of mine put it this way and it always makes me laugh because there’s a real
physical sensation that really isn’t there with the keyboard, and as my friend
put it, ‘The difference between when you’re playing a keyboard instead of a
piano is like trying to have Tantric sex with a plastic doll,’ ” Story
said and laughed.
“There’s a real sensation and that’s what I really love
about the piano is that very sensual quality of playing it.”
Downing recalled her first encounter with the keys when her
family visited friends and she was about 18 months old.
“I reached up over my head and moved my fingers down and
there was sound coming out, and oh my god,” she said during a call from her
Colorado home. “I remember my parents taking me out of there, turning out the
lights. And I’m thinking: There’s a magic thing in there that when you push it
down sound comes out! Why is everyone not in there all the time?”
Classically trained, Story’s career blossomed when she
decided to play at a restaurant to improve her sight-reading.
“I got all this music together, and I get to this
restaurant, it was a very dark restaurant, and the piano they had was this old
upright, and the entire front casing of the piano was missing, which basically
means there is absolutely nowhere to put music,” Story said during a call from
her Los Angeles home.
“And I totally went into a state of panic. Can I put the
music on the floor? No, it’s too dark; I can’t see it. I was flipping out. And
the manager walked up and said, ‘OK, I want you to start playing and I don’t want
any applause,’ meaning don’t play really loud. So I sat down and started making
things up.”
Will Ackerman, founder of Windham Hill Records, heard her
playing and signed her. Story’s dazzling debut, “Solid Colors,” followed in
1983.
Downing drew inspiration from Keith Jarrett and George
Winston, then heard Story.
“When I heard Liz’s music, it’s like that’s the music I hear
in my head. She’s a woman and if she can do it, I can, too,” Downing said. “I
found her on mySpace and called her.”
The two struck up a friendship about seven years ago and
started touring together.
Story and Downing will play at 8 p.m. Aug. 27 at the Ark in
Ann Arbor. Tickets are $25. Doors open at 7:30 p.m.
“Night Sky Essays” from 2011 is Story’s most recent release.
She is re-recording some of her material.
“After so long performing the pieces, you play them
differently,” she said.
Downing’s latest, “A Delicate Balance,” came out in
2009. Her next disc, “The Wisdom of My Shadow,” is expected next year.
“[The new disc] has sort of a dark fantasy kind of flavor in
the mood of maybe the ‘Twilight’ trilogy. So there are some vampires and
dragons and that kind of stuff going on with my music lately.”
For all the events that take place at the German-American Festival — the annual celebration of all things Deutschland taking place this year at Oak Shade Grove in Oregon, Aug. 22 -24 — what brings the most joy out of the average attendee is the food. Sigh. Yes, the food.
Just ask Tim Pecsenye, the festival chairman. He’s been involved with the event since 1976 in one capacity or another. Even when he moved to New Jersey for a while, he stayed involved. Inquired as to what foods will be available at the event for this, the festival’s 49th year, he rattled almost ten items without even thinking, with a longing tone in his voice. Potato pancakes. Sausage. Barbeque chicken. Swiss sandwiches. Baked goods. All made fresh, thank you very much.
“One thing is that our committee, for our festival, does not have food vendors,” Pecsenye said. “Every food operation that we have — and I mean funnel cakes, schnitzel sandwiches, all of those kinds of things — every one of those is prepared by our folks. We don’t have food vendors come in, we don’t have the trucks come in or anything like that, like most of the festivals do.
“And our people conceive of it, run it, do the ordering of products. Basically, we run everything.”
It takes a great deal of dedication to keep a celebration like the GAF running for nearly half a century. Over 3,000 volunteers help make the festival a reality each year. It’s a process that continues virtually year round, Pecsenye said.
“We start looking at it even while the Festival is going on, of what changes we can make for next year, what needs to be made better, what needs to service the people better. And so that’s an important part of the Festival. We have Committee meetings just about every month.
“We have a very hard-working committee,” he added. “A quarter or a third of the population in this area refers to themselves as either German or Swiss heritage, when it comes time for census. … People like our entertainment, they like our music. They love our food. And we work very hard to make sure it’s a quality event. And then, you add in a certain liquid adult beverage …”
Well yes, the presence of such a beautiful hops-and-barley concoction certainly helps enliven the festivities. But the music which will fill the air throughout the weekend will be doing its part as well, with performances from favorites like the Brother’s Grimm, the Jay Fox Band, the Austrian Express, the Polish American Concert Band and more providing the merriment its soundtrack. This year’s featured performers are the Alex Meixner Band out of Palm City, Florida.
Working to keep everything running smoothly for the thousands of attendees who will pack Oak Shade Grove, Pecsenye won’t have much time to enjoy the music himself, however, or much of anything else — which he claimed is fine by him. “I’m sort of an event planner type of a person. I sort of enjoy seeing what happens with events like this, and how it works. Even if I go to someone else’s event, I’m looking at the back room stuff rather than just enjoying it.”
I didn’t plan on writing about suicide and mental health this month, but I saw the death of Robin Williams and how I see his death as a teaching moment about our military and veterans, I decided to change subjects. Robin was a brilliant comedian, though personal tastes may differ on some of his content and the way his life was lived, it is a strong consensus that he was a genius of comedic improv!
Though I was well aware that he had mental health and substance abuse issues, from what I read now in comments on social media, many people were not aware of the darkness in Robin’s life. The passing of Robin is getting International attention, and understandably so, but many in the veteran community are upset or confused that the 22 veterans a day who commit suicide in our country are not ever given much attention by the media, and most individual’s stories are never told.
I understand their frustration as my passion is to drive down stigma connected with invisible wounds and that includes mental health issues as well as traumatic brain injury.
But I believe almost any opportunity to create more awareness through conversation in the public about what are referred to as “invisible wounds” is welcomed.
It is difficult to grab the attention of the masses in our society about any subject matter with the overwhelming amount of information thrown out from every direction. And, when the attention does go to a subject, there is another catastrophe or topic that is deemed newsworthy and attention is quickly diverted. I wish that every military member who died from suicide received a headline.
I wish that every military veteran who struggled beyond measure and lost any semblance of hope in their life would be honored for their place in life, but not glorified in death by suicide as maybe some are doing with Robin Williams.
There is no glory in taking your own life. Suicide is dark. Suicide is empty. Suicide is never the answer. But, what is the answer? I wrote about the “mask” of invisible wounds and hiding our true selves a few months back. As much as many thought they knew this iconic comedian, he wore a mask that allowed him to portray himself as someone who was not struggling. He showed glimpses of his true self when he would speak of his drug and alcohol abuse, or the demons, as he put it, that he had inside. But the mask was almost always present in Robin’s life.
The inner world of his pain was hidden from the public that adored the funny guy and maybe the mask prevented him from taking advantage of all the help available to him.
Living in denial is never healthy. We all put on our masks in some way on most days, but until you have lived with mental health illness yourself, or loved someone who has, you might not fully comprehend the battles of denying your true self every day.
You might not understand what it is like to watch television and listen to your “unprotected class” of people being ridiculed by the language and situations that our world still finds acceptable. Words like lunatic, looney bin, the crazies, insane asylum, and others that cut into the spirits of those who are trying to live with a disease; one that does not emote the feelings of caring and empathy like breast cancer, heart disease etc.
People struggling with mental health disease don’t have the benefit in our country of “being accepted for who they are”. Sure some do, but I am talking about a broad overview of how we treat, mistreat, interact with, talk about or portray those with mental health issues. Stigma breeds in society like an out of control virus and is the “connected” disease that stops many from fully removing the mask.
Not all that are homeless have mental health disease. Not all that have mental health disease are homeless. Not all have alcohol or substance abuse problems. But all are our fellow human beings. All of us have the possibility to walk in their shoes; we are not above having mental health issues ourselves.
In a given year, one in four Americans will be challenged with a mental health problem and 1 in 17 will have what is called a serious mental health disorder.
Each of us can do something to combat the stigma that makes the mask a necessity for so many.
Pam Hays is president and founder of The Arms Forces, www.thearmsforces. org; (419) 891-2111.
