Honoring Veterans and Those Who Help them

I’ve always respected veterans for a number of reasons. I admire their courage, dedication, sacrifice, and selflessness. Since the attacks on 9/11 several of my childhood friends and classmates have served in Iraq and Afghanistan. However, my grandfather, Harold, who passed away last week at the age of 83 was the closest personal connection I had to a veteran. He was the epitome of a humble veteran and quiet hero. His story is unique, just like the millions of veterans which we are grateful to have among us.

Shortly after Harold and my grandmother Jean were married in 1950, he entered the U.S. Army. Leaving for boot camp in August 1951, he was sent to Korea in February 1952 as a member of the 780^th Field Artillery Battalion. Starting out as a Private, he was later promoted to Corporal, and saw combat action leading up to the armistice agreement signed in July 1953. In addition to his role as an infantryman, having been a farmer, he was also a natural at operating bulldozers, transport trucks, and heavy artillery. He earned three service stars, having participated in three different campaigns, and a Meritorious Achievement Award.

This was the furthest extent our family knew of my grandfather’s service, because other than his military records and a few pictures, his experience was something he would later keep to himself as a private matter. Only in short, off-hand comments would anyone be able to understand the horrors of war he experienced. Matter-of-fact mentions about Koreans building bombs out of something as small as a ‘pop can’ or how he’d once seen a man’s hand cut off when firing a piece of artillery were about all. No more than a sentence or two at a time for nearly 60 years.

In a day and age where people have trouble keeping anything to themselves, much less the traumatic experiences of war, our family respected the inner-peace he had and he went on to live a life defined by his hard work ethic and light-hearted personality. Some openly tell wartime stories, share lifelong friendships with army buddies, or proudly display their service, which is certainly well-earned. My grandfather did not. His home and family were in Platte County and in his final months he said the efforts he’d put in during his life were all he ever cared about.

The second part of my grandfather’s veteran experience would come nearly 60 years after he first entered boot camp. Until recently, Harold had not taken advantage of many of the benefits afforded to veterans in our country. The G.I. Bill was in place for higher education when he came home, but he chose instead to farm the family homestead.

As Harold's health began to deteriorate in 2011, his military service qualified him to receive the highest degree of senior care available, which led him to the Missouri Veterans Home in Cameron, Missouri. The level of dignity and respect he was cared with was probably most evident in his final hours.

A team of nurses ensured his transition was comfortable and peaceful as his breathing slowed. The common bond fellow veterans hold never shined brighter than when they offered their respects. Harold's roommate symbolically held guard outside his door early that morning. Residents were eating breakfast when the announcement was made that one of their comrades had passed into eternal rest. As his body was transported through the building, the sounds of a normally busy cafeteria were still. Staff members lined the hallway; residents who were able to stand did so in a moving moment of silence, some offering one final salute. Harold was going Home in the deserving manner he had earned.

Veterans and the services provided to them are all too often politicized rather than properly prioritized. The families and care-givers of our veterans know each soldier has their own unique story that contributes to the collective strength of our proud country.

On this Veterans Day, I celebrate the service of my grandfather as well as those of your family from any generation who have contributed to the peace and prosperity of our nation, but also to those who serve our veterans to ensure their life journey is full, extending many years, and ends comfortably surrounded by loved-ones.

Panthers fall short in district finale, end season as runner-up

Park Hill South was hitting their stride at the right time as they ended their regular season and went into the postseason. Their number three seed in district play made them an ideal team capable of making some noise in district play by upsetting a team or two. After a 34-23 win over Kearney last Wednesday, the Panthers came up just short of another upset Monday night as they stuck with defending state champions Staley, before falling 31-21 in a highly competitive matchup.

The two battled for two and a half quarters before Staley eventually gained a strong hold control on the game, partially credited to an almost unstoppable offense in short yardage situations.

“We held them a couple times on third and long, but most the rest of the time it was third and short and they kept sustaining the drives,” Park Hill South coach Mark Simcox said.

After looking flat on their first offensive drive, Park Hill South was forced to match the intensity of an early Staley touchdown when they put together a 10 play, 76 yard drive ending with a touchdown run from Myles Hammonds. A failed extra point gave Staley a 7-6 advantage.

The second quarter would follow a similar format as Staley quarterback Trent Hosick would drive his team down the field and cap it off with a touchdown run, the first of three he would have on the night. It would be Park Hill South receiver Craig Scott who would awaken the Panthers’ enthusiasm on the ensuing drive when quarterback Shaefer Schuetz launched a passed that was tipped by a defender, but acrobatically pulled in by Scott, who would scamper 63 yards for a touchdown. A two-point conversion tied the game at 14-14 and brought forward the idea the Panthers might be able to realize their postseason magic once again.

Staley would add a field goal as time expired in the first half to take a 17-14 lead into the locker room.

A nine play, 66-yard drive in the third quarter that concluded with another Hosick rushing touchdown put Staley up 24-14 and seemed to put the Panthers on their heels. With about eight minutes to go in the fourth quarter, Park Hill South faced a pivotal fourth and two play deep in their own territory. Choosing to go-for-it in hopes of mounting a comeback, the fourth down attempt failed, giving Staley an ample opportunity to extend their lead and put the game out of reach. It took just two plays, as Hosick added his final touchdown of the night and gave Staley a 31-14 lead. Hosick would finish the night with more than 140 yards rushing and 130 passing.

“We were inconsistent in the run game tonight. Offensively, if we can throw it, we can run it, but we have to be able to do both,” Simcox said. “They’ve got some good players (Staley), they’re a good team.”

Park Hill South’s Kyle Reardon would catch a touchdown reception late in the fourth quarter, but it was too little, too late as Staley went on to win 31-21.

Park Hill South ends the year with a 7-4 record.

“One of the things we try to tell them is to try to have them take something away with them other than just football,” Simcox said. “We always want to win the last game, but there’s only one team that can do that.”

State Cross Country results

Park Hill's Kainen Utt came in 46th place at the Class 4 Missouri state cross country meet over the weekend with a time of 16:58. Park Hill South's Gus Whitman finished 97th while Tucker Melles sprained an ankle earlier in the week which prevented him from finishing the race.

South wins district title, ends Park Hill streak

No matter what had happened in Park Hill and Park Hill South’s three previous meetings this season, there was no question the district championship meeting they earned their way to last week would be the most important and deciding game of their series this year. While Park Hill South had won two of their three meetings this year, Park Hill won 1-0 in the most recent game on October 15^th and had the confidence of knowing they had ended Park Hill South’s season three years in a row in district play coming into last week’s meeting.

Despite what seemed as the Trojans’ strong recent grasp over the Panthers in district play, it was a moment in Park Hill South’s 3-0 victory over Smithville which they believe gave them the extra energy boost needed to finally break that streak. Injuries can not only create a physical absence on the field, but remove an emotional focus as well. So when a senior-laden and tight-knit group saw senior Ryan Dansby break his leg in the second half, it really shook the Panthers up.

“When it happened, we were up 3-0, but it was almost as if we could have lost it at that point,” Park Hill South coach Joe Toigo said. “They were really upset and it really took a lot out of us. The possibility for injury is always there, but to play hard you can’t let it enter your mind. However, when you see it happen, it’s almost impossible to erase from your mind.”

The lingering effects of the injury carried over into the next day’s practice where they needed to focus on the ensuing title game against Park Hill, something they’d been focusing their entire season towards. Enter the coaching staff, who organized with the booster club to order warm-up jerseys with Dansby’s #2 on them. The energy that created was something to be reckoned with and evident in the stadium the following night, not only from the team, but the parents and students as well.

“We really needed to do something to get their mind off it,” Toigo said. “They were so excited when they got those warm-ups earlier tonight. Their spirit has been great all year, so when we lose (on the field or, in this case, off of it) we can keep them from getting too far down.”

Re-energized, the Panthers had renewed their focus on their postseason aspirations while also using it to play for their injured teammate. Adam Weatherly would put Park Hill South up a goal towards the end of the first half, giving the Panthers a 1-0 lead at halftime. Brian Kissee would score in the opening minute of the second half to give them the exclamation point they needed for what would be the final 2-0 score. Park Hill, while physical and competitive until the very end, would not recover, never quite able to finish on a handful of near scoring opportunities.

After avoiding a complete Gatorade-drenching and hearing his team sing their fight song, Toigo talked about the new motivation and importance of using that to score early.

“There’s no question we’re playing for Ryan, as well as for ourselves. When we’re playing for ourselves, we’re playing for Ryan,” Toigo said. “If we can score first, we’re not bunkering ourselves in, but it gives us that little boost of confidence. I think we’re where we want to be right now.”

Park Hill South was playing Liberty in the Missouri state sectional round Tuesday night at The Citizen went to press. A win would send them to the state quarterfinals against Rockhurst/Lee’s Summit North this Saturday.

PH South takes conference swim title

Park Hill South claimed the conference championship over Park Hill in the Suburban Conference - Red Division swim meet last weekend with 514 points. Park Hill came in second with 438 team points. Park Hill South notched first place finishes in five which included Liam Huffman in the 100 and 200 freestyle, Tom Prinslow in the 500 freestyle, and the 200 and 400 free relays with swimmers Alex Heuton, Chase Riekhof, Travis Colpitts, Prinslow, and Huffman.

Park Hill also secured five first place finishes which included Barry Chang in the 200 individual medley, Matt Wagner in the 100 backstroke, Kyle Allen in the 100 breaststroke, Vince Tutorino in the 100 butterfly, and the 200 medley relay team of Wagner, Allen, Tutorino, and Marcin Glebocki.

Both teams will now prepare for the state meet held in St. Peters, Missouri next weekend.

Fall Round-up: Oct. 23-30

Park Hill Football

After an energy draining loss to Park Hill South two weeks ago, Park Hill was hoping they could drum up some of the postseason magic from years past in their opening round district game against St. Joe Central last Friday. The Trojans had good reason to believe a second chance at the Indians could go their way if they played well as Park Hill mounted a comeback earlier in the season to pull ahead of St. Joe Central late in the game before the Indians posted a score in the final minutes to win 32-29.

The hope that a close game may fall in the Trojans favor disappointed quickly though as St. Joe Central came out firing on all cylinders, mounting an early first quarter 14-0 lead. It wouldn’t get any better from there for the Trojans as St. Joe Central would tally more than 300 yards of offense in the first half, widening their lead to an insurmountable 37-0 score.

Park Hill would be able to post several scores late in the game, but the damage had been done as St. Joe Central ends the Trojans’ season with a 43-13 loss. Park Hill ends the season with a record of 3-7.

Park Hill/Park Hill South Boys Soccer

As The Citizen went to press Tuesday night, Park Hill and Park Hill South were competing in district semifinal match ups against Staley and Oak Park. Victories would put them into the district title game Thursday evening. If both the Trojans and Panthers were to post wins, it would set up a fourth and final chapter for the two rivals in 2012. This time with everything on the line, the two would be fighting for a postseason berth and right to claim the ultimate bragging right of sending the other home for the season.

Park Hill Volleyball

After thumping St. Joe Central in the opening round of district play, the Trojans’ season came to a disappointing end with a 25-8, 25-7 loss to Staley in the district semifinals. While Park Hill didn’t finish the season on a high note, the Trojans’ 18-12 final record is the team’s first winning record in several years.

Park Hill South Volleyball

Compiling a 31-3 record during the regular season was proof that Park Hill South was one of the top teams in the state. But in the heavily competitive state of Missouri volleyball, Park Hill South was defeated in the district title game by St. Theresa’s last week in three hard fought sets.  The Stars defeated Park Hill South in district play last year to end their season as well.

After losing the first game, the Panthers battled back to claim a 25-21 win in game two to send the district title match into a third game. There the Stars would clinch their second consecutive title with a 25-18 win.

Park Hill Boys Cross Country

Kainen Utt led Park Hill in the sectional cross country meet last weekend with his 18^th place finish, qualifying him for the state meet this weekend. Also competing for Park Hill were Nate Thomas who finished 41^st and Hanok Tekle who finished 60^th.

Park Hill South Boys Cross Country

Tucker Melles and Gus Whitman will be competing in the state cross country championship next weekend after quality performances this past weekend in sectionals. Melles finished 17^th overall while Whitman was close behind with his 21^st place finish. Other Panthers competing in the sectional race included Keyan Launders (46^th), Tristan McCoy (62^nd), Lendon Calhoun (66^th), Alex Thurston (69^th), and Jacob Bowlin (75^th). Park Hill South finished seventh as a team overall.

Park Hill South Girls Cross Country

Erica Guzman fell just short of qualifying for the state meet last weekend when she finished 39^th in a field where 30^th was the cutoff to advance out of sectionals. Lizzy Jurries also competed for Park Hill South, finishing in 72^nd place.

Park Hill Girls Cross Country

Mercedes Robinson and Kim Rau finished their season last week at the sectional meet at Ray Pec. Robinson’s 46^th place finish and Rau’s 57^th place finish were not enough to qualify them for the state meet.

Park Hill/Park Hill South Golf

The Trojans and Panthers had several quality performances in the Class 2 state golf tournament two weeks ago. Adrianna Elliott led Park Hill with her 20^th place finish after rounds of 85 and 95. Park Hill South’s Lindsey Gile placed 42^nd and Park Hill’s Bailey Warlen finished 77^th.