Viewpoints Herndon: Honored to Serve
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Viewpoints Herndon: Honored to Serve

Area veterans reflect on their experiences.

On Veterans Day 2018, casket flags fly in the breeze at Chestnut Grove Cemetery in Herndon. The American Legion Wayne M. Kidwell Post #184 Herndon//Reston raises more than 100 casket flags every Veterans Day and Memorial Day in honor of fallen Herndon veterans.

On Veterans Day 2018, casket flags fly in the breeze at Chestnut Grove Cemetery in Herndon. The American Legion Wayne M. Kidwell Post #184 Herndon//Reston raises more than 100 casket flags every Veterans Day and Memorial Day in honor of fallen Herndon veterans. Photo by Mercia Hobson.

Friday, November 16, 2018

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Photo by Mercia Hobson

Al Rivera, CMDCM (SS/SW/AW), USN (Command Master Chief, USN(R)): "I joined the United States Navy in November 1985 because of a family history of service, a hard recession and to take advantage of the service benefits such as GI Bill Tuition Assistance. My most meaning accomplishment was serving as Command Master Chief and having the ability to influence and shape the future generations of sailors positively.”

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Photo by Mercia Hobson

Nicholas A. Leshock CPT, USA: "I joined because most of my family has served at one time or another. I felt I wanted to do something with a little more purpose. I served twelve consecutive years, six in the Navy and six in the Army. It was a privilege to serve. I guess one of the challenges was working with so many different kinds of people, different backgrounds, different origins. The common desire to serve the country brought all together to accomplish what was needed.”

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Photo by Mercia Hobson

Lois Romaine Olson, Major, USAF, (Ret.): “I was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant through the Air Force ROTC at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. I served various places across the globe from Grand Forks, North Dakota to Suwon, South Korea and places in between — California, Ohio, Pentagon and Germany. My most meaningful experience was serving with the Arms Control Treaties to verify the terms of the many treaties with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). It was somehow very fulfilling to be coming from the various organizations that basically were there to conduct war, to end my career at one that was enforcing arms reduction and peace treaties.”

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