SCS to host Medal of Honor recipient

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President Barack Obama applauds former Marine Cpl. Dakota Meyers, 23, from Greensburg, Ky, Thursday, Sept. 15, 2011, after awarding him the Medal of Honor during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington. Meyers was in Afghanistan's Kunar province in Sept. 2009 when he repeatedly ran through enemy fire to recover the bodies of fellow American troops. He is the first living Marine to be awarded the Medal of Honor for actions in Iraq or Afghanistan. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

February 2, 2012

Sgt. Dakota Meyer will deliver address at school on Saturday night

by Chris Harris Commonwealth Journal The Commonwealth Journal Thu Feb 02, 2012, 08:18 AM EST

Somerset — The message is clear: There are heroes. Even here in our own hometowns.

That’s the idea organizers hope to get across Saturday night at Somerset Christian School, when Congressional Medal of Honor winner Sgt. Dakota Meter speaks to all who choose to attend.

According to Hilda Legg, a consulting expert, former political candidate, and Somerset Christian School (SCS) parent, Meyer’s speech offers a chance for young people to see that heroes really do exist.

“We have modern-day heroes — they’re real, they are our neighbors,” she said. “They’re people who take their job seriously and are committed, value human life, and value America’s freedom.

“I think sometimes children live in a world of technology, electronic games and animated characters,” she continued. “To be able to shake the hand of someone who has received the honor, who actually did show exceptional valor in the middle of a gunfight, that’s important.”

Meyer’s story is without doubt an inspiring one. A Kentucky native of Greensburg with Adair County ties — like Legg herself has — Meyer’s bravery as a member of the U.S. Marine Corps made headlines last year, all around the country.

Meyer saved 36 lives — including 13 Marines and Army soldiers along with 23 Afghan soldiers — while providing cover for the troops to fight their way out of a six-hour firefight with the Taliban in September of 2009, as reported by the Associated Press.

Despite being wounded himself, Meyer killed eight insurgents, according to the military, in an effort to help bring his own brothers-in-arms to safety throughout the hail of gunfire.

President Barack Obama bestowed the Medal of Honor on Meyer at a special ceremony at the White House last September.

As such, Meyer —described in media accounts as the perfect picture of rural Kentucky, a soft-spoken and dedicated farmboy — became the living Marine to receive the Medal of Honor, at the tender age of 23.

“He’s just a very down-to-earth person, easy to be with — just a regular kind of Kentucky boy,” said Legg, who’s already met Meyer. “I think that’s one of the things that makes him special. He’s very comfortable just talking to you and really enjoys the young people.”

Meyer has also earned the Purple Heart Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with “V” device for valor, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal.

After his time in the military, Meyer returned to Kentucky and has since issued the “Honor Marines by Educating Their Children” $1 million challenge. The effort is a drive to raise money to help provide educational opportunities for the children of those serving in the Marine Corps, with the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation.

Money raised at the event Saturday will go toward that cause. It will also go to benefit the Somerset Christian School seniors for their class trip.

“We’re teaching (the students at SCS) to share that money with Sgt. Meyer’s foundation,” said Legg. “That’s a good reason to be a part of this Saturday night.”

Admission with dinner is $25. General admission is $15 Retired or active military personnel get $5 off any adult ticket. Children ages 5-12 are $7, and under $5 have no charge.

Visit Sgt. Meyer’s website www.dakotameyer.com to learn more about him and the “Honor Marines by Educating Their Children” challenge.

Tickets can be purchased in advance at Heritage Christian Bookstore and Citizens National Bank, or at the door Saturday night, Feb. 4.

Dinner starts at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, and the program at 7 p.m.

Attendees will also be treated to the JROTC Color Guard presentation and music by Somerset Christian School Choir.

For further questions, ticket purchases, and sponsorship opportunities please contact Susan Adams at (606) 875-0255.

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Pulaski carries Girdler to win

In the weeks leading up to Tuesday’s primary election, it was impossible to miss the colorful signs dotting nearly every Pulaski roadway. The names in the race for the 15th State Senatorial District seat popped out: A.C. Donahue. Chris Girdler. Mark Polston.

Once citizens hit the ballots, however, the results mirrored the dimensions of the signs themselves: Chris Girdler stood the tallest.

Girdler, deputy district director for Congressman Harold “Hal” Rogers, ran away with the votes inside Pulaski County’s borders, earning 3,926 votes for 62.05 percent of the total number cast.

That number more than doubled the next highest vote-getter, businessman Mark Polston, who raked in 1,624 votes for 25.67 percent.

However, Polston — who owns Classic Carpet, a home-flooring business located just off the southern 914 bypass — can claim a moral victory ... three of them, in fact. In all three counties in the district other than Pulaski — those being Adair, Casey, and Russell Counties — Polston actually edged out Girdler.

In Adair, Polston beat Girdler 629 to 394. In Casey County, it was 538 to 417, and in Russell, it was 1,862 to 1,038.

Polston said he just “couldn’t pull it out with the numbers” and that “the machine worked for” Girdler in Pulaski County.

“I think that was their strategy — I think they had a Pulaski County strategy all along,” said Polston. “They played the political game well.”

Polston said the difference between his and Girdler’s campaigns was that “mine was a very, very grass roots campaign,” he said. “I did not have a political machine behind me. I understand how this process works, and in this instance, he prevailed.”

As for why Girdler didn’t take three of four counties, the winning candidate — since there are no Democrats in the race, winning the Republican primary was effectively a final victory for Girdler — said he didn’t have an answer for that.

However, “I believe things happen for a reason and I hope the long and strenuous campaign will only heighten my desire to move beyond the bitterness and partisanship of the recent past,” said Girdler.

“Regionalism is a goal of mine, and I look forward to helping all four counties,” he added, noting that he campaigned heavily in each of them.

Sen. Vernie McGaha, the long-time state senator whose seat the candidates were vying for, actually supported Polston after Liberty’s Todd Hoskins dropped out of the race earlier this month.

Donahue, a local attorney, got 556 votes in Pulaski County, 8.79 percent of the vote. He only received 145 votes in Russell County, 74 in Adair County, and 75 in Casey County, where hometown candidate Hoskins almost matched him with 71 votes despite no longer being officially in the race.

Polston said he’s “still digesting” what happened, and though “the process has been a very good experience for me,” he wouldn’t commit to running again in the future. “I wouldn’t shut the door to anything, but I’m not opening any doors either.”

Still, “I think I got a lot of people involved in the process that had not been involved before and would not have been otherwise,” he said. “A lot of people got out and worked really hard, got motivated to talk to friends and neighbors. I think a lot of people became involved through this campaign that are going to be involved for a long time.”

Girdler stressed his “positive message” and said that Rogers is a “mentor and good friend” that he would turn to for advice in dealing with a frequently combative legislative body in Frankfort, one for which Girdler hopes to help change the culture.

Girdler said that he was “confident and optimistic” during the day Tuesday because he’d “worked extremely hard.” Nevertheless, the realization that he’d won gave him “chill bumps,” he said.

“I’m absolutely honored,” said Girdler. “The position of state senator is more than an honor, more than an office. It’s a charge to keep, and I will give it my all.

“I pledge to be the people’s state senator,” he added. “I look forward to working with everyone to move this region forward.”

May 22, 2012 1 Photo
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