MARGARETVILLE - Veterans Day will close schools and businesses across the country Monday, Nov. 11 and hopefully people will spend time considering the risks and sacrifices offered by those who have served in the military, here and around the world. Because of the holiday closings next Monday, many area schools will host events for veterans Friday, Nov. 8.
Four local veterans who are likely to be attending the ceremonies at Margaretville Central School include Bob Barrack, Kurt Holcherr, Dawn Austin and Patt Svoboda. The Reporter reached out to the four this week to hear their stories and what they hope people will think about at 11 a.m. Monday.
Holcherr, who serves as the Commander of American Legion Post 216 in Margaretville, said his service in the U.S. Navy was born of community tradition.
“I lived in an area where everyone served,” said Holcherr this week. “It was just what you did.”
Holcherr enlisted in 1969 in the heat of the Vietnam War and served until 1972, mostly on an aircraft carrier called Yankee Station that patrolled the Vietnamese coast.
“We believed we were going to stop Communism then,” said the vet; “It was all about the ‘Domino Theory’ that if one country fell to Communism, others would fall like dominos.
As bad as the war was, it led to a rewarding career for Holcherr. When he left direct Naval service, he joined the Seabees, a military construction force that builds infrastructure for the U.S. Navy and is part of the Naval Construction Force building bases, airfields, roads, bridges and support facilities. Holcherr found camaraderie, education and fun. He also found a purpose, which was trying to educate, support and inspire young people.
He retired after a 20 year career but didn’t join the American Legion until the early 1980s when he moved to Margaretville. While he enjoyed a career as a licensed teaching assistant in special education at BOCES, Holcherr was attracted by its programming for young people. From sponsoring an oratorical contest that gets kids to think about country, to sponsoring scouting programs, the organization promotes civic participation.
Asked what he hopes people will think about on Veterans Day, Holcherr said he wants them to think about the people who answered the call.
“I hope they think about and appreciate the risks that were taken in the hope that the younger generation won’t have to take such risks.”
Dawn Austin also had a 20 year career in the service, but she spent her time in the U.S. Air Force working in flight line avionics as part of an F16 Fighter Squadron. Austin spent 10 years in Germany, two in Korea and had postings in South Carolina and Ohio before retiring from the Air Force.
“I was fortunate,” said Austin in reflecting on her career. “Many women had really bad experiences, and awful things happened to them,” she noted, “but that was not my experience.”
Austin loved her job, noting, as Holcherr did, the joy of camaraderie and teamwork the military provided.
“I was lucky because I always had good people around me; people who respected me and took care of me.”
Like so many who serve, Austin loved the opportunity to travel and to learn.
“It got me out of my own personal bubble,” said Austin. “You stop thinking just of yourself and start seeing and thinking of others.”
She said that in some cases, her military family became closer than her biological family.
“There is a sense of belonging, and a knowledge that your are part of something bigger than yourself,” she added.
Like Holcherr, she continued in a related career after leaving the Air Force. Signing on with a department of defense contractor, Austin continued her support service to the country in support of the Air Force Mission. Asked what she hoped people would think about on Veterans Day, Austin stressed the need to support Veterans who had harder military experiences than hers.
“I never saw direct combat or trauma,” said Austin, who is shy about sharing her military experience. “The people we should focus on are those who did suffer injury or trauma and who continue to need help after they leave.”
Bob Barrack, better known throughout the community for his work portraying Santa Claus each holiday season, served in the United State Marine Corps in 1964 and 1965. For him, the point of the military was service, a theme that has continued to define his life ever since. Having served in Portugal, Spain and Vietnam, Barrack said he loved the service.
“I would have stayed in for a career but my parents died and I had to come home to help my family,” said the vet.
Like other vets we interviewed, Barrack is a member of American Legion Post 216 and is among the most active in his community. He works hard to make the Legion Hall available for those who need it and to support programs like Boy and Girl Scouting, Legion Baseball, and Memorial Day and Veterans Day activities. In the past, the Post has also hosted popular bingo nights in addition to the annual oratorical contest. The group provides scholarships each year for graduating seniors and sends local students to Boys State and Girls State each year so they can learn more about how the country is governed.
Barrack said the Legion Hall is also available for everything from meetings and retreats to dance classes. Those who need wheelchairs, walkers or hospital beds can also reach out to the Legion for help. When he’s not helping at the Legion, Barrack is often found helping in other places like the Sacred Heart Church where he is active as a greeter, usher and all around helper.
Asked if he thought veterans were ever disrespected, Barrack said, “Not that I noticed. But that’s not the point. The point is service.”
The veteran doesn’t look back much. He spends most of his time looking forward, trying to figure out what he can do next that will be good for his community. “Giving back is what it’s about, and that’s what we hope others see on Veterans Day.”
Patt Svoboda served in the U.S. Army as a member of the Women’s Army Corps then followed her active duty service with work in the Army Reserves that included active duty in Desert Storm and Desert Shield while her husband stayed home and cared for their young children. After 22 years of service, Svoboda returned to civilian status and ultimately joined American Legion Post 216 in Margaretville. Today, she serves as the Delaware County Legion Commander.
Like many before her, Svoboda signed on to take advantage of the opportunities that military service offered.
“I wanted to be able to afford college,” said the vet, “and I wanted to see different places around the world.”
Svoboda enlisted in March 1976, after the Vietnam War ended and was able to thoroughly enjoy a career spent mostly in Germany. She got to visit many spots in that country as well as Italy and France during her tours.
“At that time there was no animosity toward us. We were young and though we tried to blend into the culture, the Germans often rolled their eyes at our antics.” Svoboda had career opportunities she would not have had in civilian life.
“I was running my own lab before I was 20,” she said this week. “That never could have happened on the outside.”
As a reservist, Svoboda not only served in two war zones, but also worked in the U.S. Armed Services Blood Work Office in Washington, DC. She noted, as did Austin, that in those days military life was not always great for women.
“It could be awkward,” said Svoboda. “But I just tried to keep my nose clean and do my job and for me, it all worked out.”
Today, Svoboda is a proud owner of a small piece of history, a piece of the Berlin Wall she was able to take from the crumbling structure before it was ultimately torn down.
Hindsight is precise and Svoboda looks back on her military career only to see how it can inform her service to community now.
“I love the Legion for how it serves vets and how it serves young people,” she said. Svoboda talked about work in veteran crisis areas, and the importance of making sure people know to dial 988 for mental health crisis. She loves the blood drives, and is proud when kids are sent to Boys State or Girls State or get to play Legion Baseball. At the county level, Svoboda would like to develop junior shooting skills with air rifles.
“I’m proud of everything the Legion does,” she said.
Svoboda hopes that on this Veterans Day, people will remember that veterans “put their lives at risk the minute they signed on the dotted line to join. Though by definition, veterans made it back alive, they nevertheless made some sacrifice for their country. Many came back alive but injured, scarred and/or traumatized. It is those people that she and Austin hope get the focus on Veterans Day so that they can get the help they need.
“I hope everyone will reach out to a veteran on this day and every day,” said Svoboda, “and be sure they are served in a caring community.”
