COLUMBUS — A retired local couple who both earned their silver oak leaves by rising to the rank of lieutenant colonel in the military know exactly what their plans are for Veterans Day.
In July, Dennis Brich, a dentist, and his wife, Jackie Brich, a registered nurse, became the only husband-wife to serve together on the Bartholomew County Veterans Honor Guard. Both spent several years in the U.S. Air Force long before moving to Columbus eight years ago.
Since joining the Honor Guard, the couple have taken part in the funerals of about 17 veterans. While a few of the services honored World War II veterans, most of the funerals were for those who served in the Vietnam War.
Under normal circumstances, the couple would serve as honor guard members Wednesday at the Bartholomew County Memorial for Veterans. But when the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the local Veterans Day service being canceled, they made other plans.
The couple will drive south to Jefferson County to tour the Indiana Veterans Memorial Cemetery near Madison. The recently refurbished memorial park is the final resting place of 291,000 veterans, their spouses and eligible family members.
“We will look at the gravestones, see what years they served, and in which wars they fought,” Jackie Brich said. “Then, we’ll have a moment of silence, so we can just thank them for what they did.”
For more on this story, see Wednesday’s Republic.
