In his roughly 30 years of military service, Bob Hempstead answered a number of calls to serve. More recently, however, the veteran received a different kind of request — a call to share his stories.
Hempstead delivered a keynote address during CSA New Tech’s first-ever Veterans Day program on Friday, which also featured student presentations about local veterans they interviewed for a class project. Joe Steele, who leads the school’s “American Heritage” course alongside fellow teacher Hope Alexander, said students were involved in organizing the event.
Like many of the veterans honored at Friday’s ceremony, Hempstead is related to a New Tech student — his granddaughter, Tara Shuler. His daughter, Crystal Shuler, was deployed alongside him in Iraq.
“If you think your career was rough, take your daughter into combat,” said Hempstead.
His address mixed humor and heart as he told about everything from accidentally marrying his wife too early in Japan to being “downsized” alongside other Marines, which led him to join the Indiana Army National Guard.
He closed by telling students about the real reason he showed up for the day’s ceremony.
“I look at these veterans in front of me, and I’m almost positive not a one of them is here for Veterans Day,” said Hempstead. I’m almost positive that none of them are here for themselves. There are here because somebody asked them to be here.”
What these veterans want most is to support young people, said Hempstead, who now works with the Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp.’s iGrad program. He added that his service as a Marine was not for himself, but for his family and the children he’s been able to work with since leaving the military.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we are not supposed to be the frontline fighters anymore.” said Hempstead. “We’re supposed to be back here, supporting you. As a matter of fact, I could about guarantee you, if you needed us for anything whatsoever in your life, we would go and fight the devil at the gates of hell with the only thing to fight with is the spit in our mouth. I promise you that. If I’m wrong, correct me, veterans. I don’t think I am. It’s no longer about us.”
He also left students with a word of advice — if they’re thinking about enlisting, they should talk to veterans first before hearing from recruiters.
After Hempstead spoke, students delivered their presentations on veterans they’d interviewed. The ceremony then concluded with a performance of “Taps” by junior Warren Fennig and a moment of silence.
“Thank you for your service to this country and your sacrifice and sharing your stories with us,” said junior Andrew Emmeth. “And we will never forget what you have done for us, ever. We appreciate everything you have done for us so far, and we appreciate you guys supporting us further with our future decision-making.”
