Nick's Vet's Day Program

There are moments in your life you remember forever. Tonight was one of those nights for me and I'm sure for many others as well. It was the night my youngest brother-in-law, Capt. Nicholas Turner became a hometown hero and I was honored and quite proud to witness it.

By the looks of the completely filled auditorium, it appeared the entire community of Griswold had turned out to hear the small town boy they'd watched play and grow up and then sent off into the world not so long ago, speak about his war-time experiences.

Not having grown up in a small town, I was amazed at the togetherness and compassion this group showed to one another. It was clearly evident that Veteran's Day was a special event to be celebrated by everyone, young AND old! There was an incredible warmness that exuded from every person walking the crowded gymnasium floor.

The high school jazz band played. There were letters to soldiers serving overseas that we could all sign. There were old uniforms and ammunition from wars gone by. The middle school choir sang a song and held up a flag and thank you note they'd made. They made special signs and the band played for each branch of the military while those that served in that branch stood and we applauded. And several high school students stood and read poems about soldiers, wars and sacrifice. It was very well orchestrated and community planned event.
Nicholas was then introduced by the school's superintendent with the following remarks:

-Nicholas Turner was born on June 1 1978 in Atlantic, Iowa, growing up in Elliot, Iowa.
-He Graduated Griswold High School in 1997.
-His High School Activities included: Band, Choir, Swing Choir, Baseball, Basketball, Track and Football
-He played football for Central Central College and graduated in 2001 with a degree in General Studies
-He was commissioned as a 2nd Lt in the Marine Corps Aug of 2001, completed the Basic School in March of 2002 and Primary Flight training flying in the T-34 Turbo Mentor in May of 2003
-He was promoted to 1st Lieutenant in Aug of 2003
-He completed Advanced Flight training flying the TH-57 Jet Ranger in December of 2003 and was Designated as a Naval Aviator Dec 18 of 2003, graduating #1 in his class being assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 362 in Kaneohe, Hawaii, where he was checked in to HMH-362 and was assigned as a schedule writer.
-In 2005, he was deployed for 7 months to Okinawa, Japan and joined the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit aboard the USS ESSEX
-Nick was promoted to Captain in May of 2006
-In 2007,he was deployed 7 months to Iraq as the Flightline Officer in Charge and then attended Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics School
-In 2009, Nick was again deployed for 7 months to Iraq and Afghanistan as the Squadron Pilot Training officer and Weapons and Tactics Instructor.
-He has now accepted orders to Marine Helicopter Squadron 1, which is the only helicopter responsible for flying the president of the United States worldwide.

-Designations include: Aircraft commander, Functional Checkpilot, Section Leader, Division Leader, Terrain flight Instructor, Assault flight leader, Night Systems Instructor, Defensive Measures Instructor, Assistant Natops Instructor, Instrument Evaluator, Air Mission Commander, Core Skills Instructor and Weapons and Tactics instructor.

Personal Decorations Include: Navy Commendation Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, National Defense Medal, Air Medal 1st thru 9ths strike flight award, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Iraq Campaign Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, NATO medal, Meritorious Unit Citation and Pistol and Rifle Expert.

Nick married Kimberly Wilson from Colo, IA on July 5th, 2003 and has four children McKenzie 11, Trevor 5, Addison 2 and Tyler 2 months.

Having been a professional speaker for over 15 years, I'd like to think I'm a pretty good judge of what it takes to make a memorable presentation. Tonight I was incredibly impressed and moved with Nicholas' speech. His voice horse and cracking from this being his 7th talk in two days, his words still grabbed us all, listening intently with interest from the moment he began.

He thanked all those who served and asked them to stand to be recognized. He made special mention of his wife Kim and all she'd done for him and his family while he was gone all those many months serving our country, which and her and the rest of us in tears at the git go! He then asked all wives of service men to stand so they too, could be recognized, and again loud applause rang to the rafters. It was so awesome!

He continued by acknowledging the vast numbers of men and women that had died in all the American wars and what an incredible sacrifice that was. I can't recall word for word, so I do hope you'll take the time to listen to the video we're editing to be posted soon, but I can tell you the entire audience hung on his every word as he recalled stories from his childhood into adulthood. We laughed along with him at his goofy faces as he recalled some of his jobs during school such as cleaning chicken coops and castrating hogs. And we cried along with him as he, choked with emotion, recanted a gut-wrenching tale of his Dad's most horrible day at war... and then his own. And we were all filled with inspiration as he declared to all the kids still in school that we can all attain our dreams, because, "Gee whiz, just look at me, I'm flying the President!" Without a doubt, it was truly a speech to remember, with all the elements of the greatest speeches on record today.
Retiring of our colors.

There was standing room only in the auditorium tonight!

After the program he is mobbed by his adoring fans! For hours he stood and shook hands and visited with folks who had read or heard about him. It was very touching to watch and listen to. And then everyone was invited to the lunchroom for coffee and fresh baked cookies, cakes and bars. Many high school students, with big smiles on their faces, served everyone. And later, still with smiles, they helped cleaned up. I was again amazed at how the entire community pulled together tonight to show their appreciation to those who have served our country.

Nick and Kim after shaking hundreds of well wishing hands.

Nick standing next to two Veterans he is very proud to know, Phil Marin and his Dad Larry. Phil was his Dad's crew chief in Vietnam. Nick made special mention of them both in his speech that night.

Nick and his proud wife, Kim and kiddos, Tyler, Trevor, Addison and Mackenzie.

Many friends, classmates, uncles, aunts, cousins were here. Sister Jan surprised Nick by flying in from Florida with her friend Nancy from Colorado. Above brothers, Jim, Phil, and Tim with Nick after the program.

There were many folks that really wanted to be here but could not make it tonight. A former teacher sent him a card with a very kind and heartfelt letter. He was also asked to autograph a couple newspaper articles about him - one was to an 80 year old former Marine!

Nick standing by one of the front page Council Bluff's newspaper articles he was asked to autograph.

To read the entire article published by The Daily Nonpareil, click on the picture below:

A big THANK YOU to all our Veterans and those in Griswold who planned, organized and attended this wonderful Veteran's Day event Wednesday night. But especially to Nicholas for making us all SO PROUD!!

click here for a special video, which includes Nick's Speech