For decades, George Rossman has worked both in the public spotlight and behind the scenes to serve the veterans of his community.
His efforts have not gone unnoticed, and the former Enumclaw mayor recently received the 2021 Washington state Department of Veterans Affairs’ Distinguished Service Award during the local VFW Post 1949 meeting on Feb. 24.
Presenting the award was Paul Herrera, senior vice commander for the Washington state VFW.
Herrera first recognized Rossman’s service during the Korean War, which is sometimes referred to as the “Forgotten War”.
But “it wasn’t a Forgotten War. Not by the ones who waged it. And not by the ones that survived it, and not by the those whose families lost loved ones,” Herrera said. “Had it not been for the sacrifice of George and our Korean war veterans, South Korea would have shared North Korea’s fate, and the world would have faced a dramatically more dangerous and unstable world in the Pacific Rim.
“But this award isn’t for that chapter in his life,” Herrera continued. “This award is for the chapters he wrote after he was out of the military, from serving as a public official in Enumclaw here for many years, to getting the Veteran’s Memorial Park established — that’s one of the greatest things… he’s said he has ever done. That memorial is probably one of the most beautiful veterans memorial places here in Washington state. I have personally driven out there and walked there, by myself, just to heal. And I know many veterans have walked there to heal. And I thank you for that.”
In his acceptance speech, Rossman encouraged everyone to research how they, too, can support their local vets.
“You don’t have to do things like I like to do. You can do it in a different, personal way,” he said, adding that if you know a vet in need, “call the VFW. This post has three of the most wonderful service officers that [will] help veterans in hard times; or, just go to the computer, and type in ‘the Department of Veterans Affairs’, and you’d be just amazed at the things they provide for veterans. All you have to do is ask.”
Not mentioned in his speech was that Rossman continues to serve the local veteran community in smaller ways. For example, “I make flag display cases, to display veterans’ burial flags,” he said. “I’ve maybe close to 100 of those now.”
Photo by Ray Miller-Still Several first responders were also honored at the Feb. 24 VFW meeting, including Corrections Officer Tyler Ewalt of the Enumclaw Police Department, who received the Police Officer of the Year award.
FIRST RESPONDER, ESSAY CONTEST AWARDS
Rossman wasn’t the only person celebrated at the VFW meeting. Also honored was:
■ Firefighter/EMT Tyler Gachen of the Enumclaw Fire Department, who received the Firefighter of the Year award;
■ Corrections Officer Tyler Ewalt of the Enumclaw Police Department, who received the Police Officer of the Year award;
■ Larry Kauffman, who received the Chaplain of the Year Award;
■ The winners of the VFW’s Patriot’s Pen essay contest, which included middle school students Audrie Roddy (first place), Natalie DeShayes (second place), and Louisa Leora Stuenkle (third place);
■ And the winnders of the VFW’s Voice of Democracy essay contest, which included high school students Sophia DeMarco (first place), Natalie DeMarco (second place), and MaKenna Pittman (third place).
Contributed photo VFW Post 1949 holds annual essay contests for local middle and high schoolers. This year, the Voice of Democracy contest winners were sisters Sophia DeMarco and Natalie DeMarco, who placed first and second respectively.
