Honoring Our Nation’s Veterans

Veterans Day is a time for us to thank our veterans for their sacrifice, bravery and service.

On Veterans Day, November 11, we celebrate and honor veterans for their sacrifice, bravery and service. Battelle salutes all those who have served in the U.S. armed forces, including our own employees. For nearly 100 years, Battelle has supported veterans long after their tours of duty have ended, and we’re proud to share a few recent activities here.

Community Partners Create Impact

The National Veterans & Memorial Museum (NVMM), located in Columbus, OH, celebrated its fifth anniversary in mid-October with an evening of moving stories from veterans and community partners, including Battelle. NVMM unveiled its new Impact Gallery, a special space recognizing meaningful moments and partnerships that have helped expand their impact in the first five years.

Patt Rawls, a Program Manager at Battelle, is featured as part of the Impact Gallery storytelling. Rawls served our country in the U.S. Army Reserve.

“It was a wonderful evening hearing stories of others who have served and are still serving,” she said. “There are so many parts of a soldier’s life that are never spoken about, but the experience at the museum reminded us of why we commit to serve.”

Photo: Patt Rawls, Battelle Program Manager, and Battelle CEO Lou Von Thaer standing at Patt’s display in the NVMM Impact Gallery

Honor Flight Mission 127

For the second consecutive year, Battelle was the proud sponsor of Honor Flight Columbus in early November. Honor Flight is a non-profit organization dedicated to honoring America’s senior veterans from WWII through the post-Vietnam War era. Fifteen Battelle employees volunteered as guardians to accompany eighty-one veterans on a trip to Washington, D.C., to visit their service and war memorials. The trip helped veterans share their stories with future generations and celebrated their service to our country with a proper homecoming that many of them never received.

This year’s flight included one World War II veteran, Al White, who was stationed in the Pacific from January 1941 through November 1946. The Honor Flight was especially meaningful for him as he turned 97 years old a few days after the trip.

Photo: Albert White, United States Army, at the WWII memorial. He served in the South Pacific during WWII

During a stop at Arlington National Cemetery, veterans watched the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which included two wreath-laying ceremonies and the playing of Taps. Following the ceremony, students from across the country—including Central Ohio—made a tunnel for the veterans to walk through. Many were left speechless and emotional as they walked through the long line of students. One veteran remarked that the experience was the welcome home he didn’t receive 60 years ago after his service in Vietnam.

Left Photo: : Note handed to a veteran Ronald Fosdick, United States Army, by a middle school student.
Right Photo: Ronald, with his high school guardian Riley, served in Vietnam.

Watch a video recap of the trip and hear from some of the veterans on Honor Flight Columbus, Mission 127. 

 

Supporting Service Members through the Battelle Military Support Employee Resource Group

Battelle’s Military Support employee resource group (ERG) convenes Battelle’s military veterans, employees in the guard or reserve, and military families and friends to support those who served to defend the nation. The ERG organizes events and activities to help connect employees with the unique experiences and values that military service brings to the workplace.

“You don’t have to be a veteran or active member of the military to get involved,” said Dean Grundei, Director of Contracts. “We engage and value military service for the furtherance of Battelle’s mission.”

Chris Schiefer, Senior Administrative Assistant in Battelle’s CBRNE business, described the impact that serving in the military has had on her time at Battelle and underscores the value of teamwork to get the mission done.

“In the military, you cannot accomplish any mission by yourself,” Schiefer said. “It’s the same thing at Battelle. You need a team—whether it’s one other person or many others—you are part of a team that accomplishes the mission of delivering for our clients. Even if you think your part is small, you are just as valuable to the mission.”

Trent Good, Program Manager in the Critical Infrastructure business, also appreciates the impact of military service.

“Serving in the military has had a tremendous impact on my career at Battelle,” he said. “From the time that I joined Battelle 23 years ago, the basic skills that I learned in the Marines, such as time management and communication, helped me to be a successful contributor to projects that I support and manage.”

To all those who have served or are currently serving, the employees of Battelle thank you.