The words “God bless America” have taken on a profound new meaning for me.
It is because the Ohio Reformatory for Women (ORW) celebrated Veterans Day with a ceremony organized by the Group of Incarcerated Veterans Enduring (G.I.V.E), which was established in 2005. It was held in the gym to accommodate the many staff members, inmates, outside guests and 11 very special dogs.
I had been invited with the Stitching Post team in appreciation for making patriotic bandanas for the Circle Tail (service dog training program) dogs to wear during the ceremony and all around the grounds. The overarching message was obviously to honor American veterans, yet it taught me a lesson in history, humanity and quiet heroism.
Before I go on, it’s confession time: Studying history and government was never my idea of fun. In high school, I worked hard and earned A’s in both, but most of my retention ended when summer began.
As a member of Columbus Centennial High School’s flag corps, I marched with the band in Veterans Day parades. They were fun, and then we had the rest of the day off. What typical teenager doesn’t love that?
I hang my head in shame as I admit that even having three uncles as veterans (they each enlisted and served in the Army as soon as they turned 18), I just didn’t grasp the magnitude of their service for our country. Now as a mature adult, I watch the news every night and read Time Magazine in order to learn more so I can hold a respectful conversation.
However, the power of ORW’s ceremony brought me new focus and a bone-deep level of admiration and appreciation for service men and women over the entire arc of time.
The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections (ODRC) has its own color guard made up of veteran employees from different prisons. They began the program with a striking procession and presentation of the U.S. and Ohio flags, flanked by riflemen and followed by their commander.
This was the first time I’d witnessed a formal presentation of this nature up close and personal (as opposed to just seeing it on TV) and I was filled with awe and respect, and was a little intimidated by the unblinking precision of their maneuvers and position of attention. The entire gym was so utterly soundless except for the marching that it gave me goosebumps.
In the front of the gym were also displayed flags of all six branches of the Armed Forces: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard and Space Force.
The next procession was of inmate veterans who stood in front of their branch’s flag. You might be surprised by the number of women veterans who are incarcerated. I don’t know their stories or the journey they took from serving our country to serving time, but I do pray for their recovery, healing and for their families.
Then our Circle Tail dogs, wearing branch-specific, color-coordinated bandanas paraded in and went to stand with each group of women. We also had four “patriotic puppies” wearing cute red, white and blue printed bandanas to complete the landscape.
An unexpected comic moment happened when the “pets for vets” support dog, Lucy, wanted to say ‘Hi’ to the Circle Tail dogs by whining really, really loud as they passed her on the way to their places. Dogs will be dogs, and more than one detoured from the route to say “Hi” back! Not to worry, they all had a meet and greet and treats after the ceremony.
Several speeches followed. ORW’s deputy warden of administration, a veteran himself, acknowledged many staff members who are also veterans. The number was eye-opening for me and, again, I don’t know their stories or how they went from the Department of Defense to the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, but I respect and am thankful for their service.
The G.I.V.E. group presented donation checks to the Veteran Companion Animal Services (aka: pets for vets) and the Union County Military Family Support Group. ORW does a lot of fundraising whereby inmates can purchase pies, doughnuts, fresh vegetables, cheese and the proceeds go to several outside charities. It’s a wonderful opportunity for us to help the community and have some rare foods. In this case, we raised $1,300, so both charities received $650. Representatives from each one spoke about their experiences and how our donation impacts their work in such a meaningful way.
And then, the history lesson I’ll never forget!
First, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, along with the exacting discipline and dedication of those who protect it was explained.
Second, the relevance of 11 a.m. on 11/11 and how Veterans Day came into existence. An emotion-filled poem, written by an incarcerated military mom, was read. An achingly beautiful song was sung to accompany a slide show of a tiny, yet startling fraction of American service people who didn’t make it home. There wasn’t a dry eye in the place.
The color guard recovered the flags, solemnly marched out and the ceremony was over. I finally exhaled.
Interestingly, I recognized the representative from the UCMFSC, and the Holy Spirit propelled me to speak to him. Mr. Bonnell had been the investigator here in the early 1990s and I met him in 1995.
I reintroduced myself and told him how he helped me through a complicated, rough time of adjustment at the very beginning of my incarceration. He introduced me to his wife (of 61 years!) who got tears in her eyes as we talked and she realized I’d been here over three decades.
Mrs. Bonnell shook my hand and said quietly, “It’s time for you to go home, dear,” and he nodded in agreement.
I felt the poignant presence of God in that moment. I thanked them for their kind words, for his service in the Army as well as ORW, and left the gym positively humbled.
As I walked back to my housing unit, paeans of freedom overwhelmed me with gratitude. God truly has blessed this country with thousands of motivated, courageous, selfless people who fight for and protect our freedom.
While I do not have the exact same freedom as most Americans, I am thankful for those who serve because this prison could be so much worse! I know I’ll earn my freedom (parole) one day and I will never take it for granted.
“God bless America” is more than a slogan for me now; it is a fundamental truth. He did, He does, and He will bless us forever.
Michele Williams is incarcerated at the Ohio Reformatory for Women in Marysville.