Veterans Day tribute

CELINA - In honor of Veterans Day, a Celina Intermediate School teacher has curated an exhibit of military uniforms and items to show students that veterans are not a remote group of men and women but rather people with families who come from this very community.

Band director Shawn Snider and his parents, Gary and Joan Boroff Snider, all of Celina, showcased in the school's display case uniforms and items that were once worn or used by veterans in the combined Snider-Boroff family. The case is located just within the entrance of the school.

The idea sprang forth as Snider and his parents reflected on the death of his paternal great-uncle Pleasant Laverl Boroff, a Korean War veteran who died on Feb. 28.

"He recently passed away this year and we sort of inherited his uniform. My mother, she was like, 'It's just such a shame that these uniforms mean so much and they get put in a footlocker their whole life.' She wanted to just do something with it," Snider said.

"I've had so many people in my family affected by this. We thought it would be cool to show the kids just what one family can have and get them questioning, 'What's in your family?'" he continued.

The display features uniforms, medals, a helmet, a military-issued flag, photographs and other objects from World War II through the Vietnam War. Snider-Boroff family members fought in most major military conflicts dating back to the Civil War, Snider's parents were able to determine through genealogical research.

"My parents and I did this for the kids. We wanted them to just see how much history just one family could have, and odds are they have it, too. They might just not be aware of it," Snider said.

Snider said he hopes the display prompts students to realize that veterans come from towns like Celina, that military servicemen and women aren't just strangers from long ago or far away but people who once lived or still live in Mercer County.

"There was a need and they were called upon and they did it," Snider said. "They stepped up to the plate and did their duty, and we believe that's really important and we try to teach our students that here at CIS - do the right thing. Sometimes it's not always easy and you just have to push forward."

Those whose service and memories are honored within the display case all had been drafted into military service, Snider noted.

"As veterans, all of these military members had one thing in common - they were all drafted into military service," he said. "Some were married with children at the time of their draft."

The display case features,

• a World War I uniform worn by Charles Rose Price, Snider's maternal great-grandfather. He served in the U.S. Army from 1918-1919 as a private in Company K of 358th Infantry 90th Division, according to Snider. Price was stationed in France and was present during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive from Oct. 14, 1918-Nov. 11, 1918.

During his time in France he also served as a U.S Army baker and "told of starving French children who would wait outside the bakery back door for scraps to be thrown out. He took pity on the children and made sure there were plenty of scraps," Snider said. Price died in 1979.

• a World War II dress and medical uniform worn by Odis Lavon Boroff, Snider's maternal grandfather. He served in the U.S. Army from 1941-1945 in the 1520th Service Command Unit as a medical technician, Snider said. Boroff treated wounded soldiers in Puerto Rico before they reached the United States for further treatment.

He received the American Theatre and Good Conduct Medals of Honor. He died in 1997.

• a Korean War uniform that was worn by Pleasant Laverl Boroff, Snider's paternal great-uncle. He served as a lance corporal in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1952-1954, according to Snider. After being wounded in a front-line battle in Korea, he received the Purple Heart Medal of Commendation.

He died this year. The Purple Heart is also on display in the school.

"A lot of students don't understand what the Purple Heart is so I try to tell them, 'If you were wounded in action, you would receive one of those,'" Snider said.

• Vietnam uniforms worn by Gary Lee Snider, Snider's father. He served as a specialist in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1972-1978, according to Snider. Gary Lee Snider served in the 983rd Combat Engineering Battalion Company D located in Lima.

"Because he was enlisted in the Army Reserves, after his five-month training was completed, he served two days each month and two weeks each summer for a period of six years," Snider said. "Specialist Snider was trained as an electrician after training as an infantry soldier. If deployed to active duty his company would have been responsible for construction of infrastructure, like roads, buildings and military bases."