11/11: Veterans Day Ceremony and Luncheon
(October 8, 2021 - Blue Ash)
The largest Veterans Day Ceremony in Southwest Ohio will be held on Thursday, November 11, at 10:30 a.m., at the Blue Ash Bicentennial Veterans Memorial Park, 4871 Cooper Rd.
The event, which is open to the public, features a memorial ceremony, tolling of bells, music from the Ohio Military Band, and keynote speaker U.S. Representative Dr. Brad Wenstrup (bio below).
During the ceremony, students from Edwin H. Greene Intermediate School will read essays they have written for the event and will place wreaths at the base of the statues at the park.
Numerous veterans and dignitaries will be in attendance. The program is organized by the Blue Ash Veterans Day Committee and is funded through sponsorship ads and donations.
Following the ceremony, the public is invited to a luncheon at the Blue Ash Recreation Center, 4433 Cooper Road. The meal is prepared by members of the 123rd Air Control Squadron. Cost is $5 per person.
During the luncheon, Blue Ash Mayor Marc Sirkin and the Veterans Committee will recognize the 2021 Veteran of the Year.
Keynote Speaker U.S. Representative Dr. Brad Wenstrup
A Cincinnati native, Dr. Brad Wenstrup graduated from Saint Xavier High School and the University of Cincinnati. He went on to earn a medical degree in Chicago as a podiatric physician and after completing his surgical residency he established a private practice in Cincinnati, treating patients for 26 years.
In 1998, at the age of 39, Wenstrup called 1-800-USA-ARMY and joined the Army Reserve, ultimately receiving a direct commission as a captain in the U.S. Army Reserve Medical Service Corps. Upon completion of the Officers Advanced Course in 2004, Wenstrup was promoted to the rank of major.
Wenstrup then deployed in 2005 - 2006 with the US Army’s 344th Combat Support Hospital, Task Force 344, to Abu Ghraib, Iraq, where he served as the Chief of Surgery, and the Director of Wound Care. Wenstrup also served as the assistant to the Deputy Commander, Clinical Services (DCCS - equivalent to Chief of Staff), and served as the acting DCCS for three months during his twelve-month tour. The 344th was responsible for detainee healthcare throughout the Iraqi theater, with the heart of the mission taking place at Abu Ghraib Prison Hospital. The 344th also cared for Soldiers, Marines, and Iraqi civilians. In May 2006, at the end of his yearlong combat tour in Iraq, Wenstrup was awarded the Bronze Star, the Combat Action Badge, and numerous campaign medals for his service to his country. Wenstrup currently holds the rank of colonel and is assigned to the Office of the Chief of Staff of the Army Reserve as a medical policy advisor.
Wenstrup was elected to Congress in 2012 to represent the people of Ohio’s Second Congressional District and currently serves on the Ways and Means Committee and the Intelligence Committee. During his time in Congress, Wenstrup also fulfills his clinical Reserve duties by serving at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda. In 2018, Colonel Wenstrup was awarded the Soldier’s Medal for heroism.
Wenstrup and his wife, Monica, reside in Cincinnati with their two children.