Whitney Hodgin
Dodge City Globe
Those were the words Air Force veteran and widow Amanda Pittman shared with the Dodge City Globe at the completion of the Memorial Day ceremony at Fort Dodge this week, where Governor Laura Kelly spoke to a crowd as large as the one at Maple Grove Cemetery, which held concurrent events May 27.
William T. Pittman, TSGT in the Air Force, was a loving father to his five daughters, and a proud grandfather, when the recent retiree succumbed to COVID-19. They had plans to make many more memories together.
“That’s why I appreciate today because no one wants to be forgotten,” she said. “It’s what you don’t see that makes the difference. The hardest part is we look for him because we forget he’s not here.
“The fun part is seeing the best of him in our girls and grandkids. They are his legacy. They’re going on to do great things. I just want them to remember how much he loved them. It was a big deal for him to make them feel they were the most important kids.”
The two met while serving our country.
“Bill loved the Air Force and was proud of his work,” she said.” I’m grateful for the work ethic he gave our girls. Bill was a great dad and a great Poppy.”
He passed away on Dec. 28, 2021.
“That very day I hit a deer on the drive home and totaled my van,” the Dodge City Pentecostal recalled, leaning on Bill’s truck, which she drove to the ceremony. “It’s God’s sense of humor. That’s God way of saying ‘I know you’re tough, but I’m going to show you just how tough you are!’
“God has been so good to me. It is a good life. If you woke up in America, you can’t complain.”
Governor Laura Kelly’s remarks at Fort Dodge Memorial Day Ceremony:
Good morning. Thank you, General Turner, for that introduction, and for your leadership at the Kansas Commission on Veterans Affairs Office – which will soon be renamed the Kansas Office of Veterans Services.
I’m honored to join all of you on this Memorial Day.
It was not even 60 years ago that Congress officially declared Memorial Day a federal holiday. But today, amidst all the barbecues and celebrations of a three-day weekend, it seems that too many Americans have forgotten the true meaning of Memorial Day… which is, of course, to honor those who died while serving in the Armed Forces.
I grew up in a military family and have always had a deep respect and admiration for the men and women in our military. My father was a career Army officer who fought in World War II and the Korean Conflict. Both of my parents are buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
Spending my childhood on Army posts all over the United States, in Germany, and in Japan taught me the importance of service, integrity, and accountability at a very young age.
So, I’m honored to be part of today’s dedication of this columbarium wall expansion, so that we can continue to properly pay our respects to the veterans buried here at Fort Dodge.
Although this cemetery wasn’t officially established until 2002, the military roots of this land run deep.
We are standing on the grounds of the original Fort Dodge Soldier’s Home Cemetery, which was established in 1890. It is the final resting place for more than 1,000 veterans and their family members, each with their own unique story and legacy. Since the construction of the Kansas Veterans Cemetery in 2002, an additional 700 veterans and their eligible family members have been interred here.
It’s the final resting place for servicemen such as:
• Machinist Mate Chief John Lloyd West, who joined the Navy in 1953 and dedicated 23 years of service to his country. During his career, he crossed over the Equator four times and was honored as “King Neptune” on two of those crossings; and
• U.S. Marine Lance Corporal Brian Escalante, who at 25 years old, was serving our country in Iraq when he was killed by a remote-controlled bomb that was detonated near a Humvee he was in. Corporal Escalante was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and a memorial commendation from the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Whether they served in combat or during peacetime, our veterans represent the very best of America. They deserve to be treated with dignity in life and in death.
The expansion of the Columbarium wall will allow servicemembers and their families to have the option of interment on these hallowed grounds for years to come.
The least we can do for soldiers who bravely served our country is to give them a final resting place where their legacies can live on.
But I also firmly believe that one of the best ways to honor the veterans who have gone before us is by supporting the veterans who are still with us.
As Governor, one of my priorities has been to make Kansas the best state for our servicemembers, veterans, and their families to call home.
Since I took office, we have:
• Cut taxes for veterans;
• Created KanVet.org, a website where veterans can access resources and learn about career opportunities here in Kansas;
• And passed legislation making it easier for servicepeople and their spouses to move to Kansas and join the workforce;
We built a Gold Star Family Memorial on the grounds of the Capitol to serve as a permanent tribute to the families of fallen servicemembers to remind us all that the cost of freedom is enormous and enduring.
And we have made progress on a new facility to serve veterans in northeast Kansas.
I know what it means for brave men and women to put on the uniform and represent our country around the world. Their sacrifice is why we have so many of our freedoms. It’s something I’ll never take for granted.
Thank you to everyone who had a hand in making this expansion project a reality. To the veterans who are here today, I salute you and am deeply grateful for your service. May the soldiers buried here never be forgotten.
Email the writer whodgin@cherryroad.com.
