The Marion VA Healthcare System held its inaugural Veterans Day ceremony on Monday, paying tribute to local veterans’ dedication to the nation.
It’s the first time the VA has held an event to honor veterans on the day set aside for them.
The day held special meaning, with a bench dedication honoring Sergeant First Class Gregory Lee Strong, a veteran respected for his service and lasting impact on the veteran community.
“Today, we have a particularly meaningful tribute to share as we dedicate a bench in memory of Sergeant First Class Gregory Lee Strong,” Zachary Sage, Executive Director of the Marion VA, said.
“Greg’s dedication to service extended beyond his military career. He worked for the VA, assisting veterans with healthcare enrollment. He later served as a Veteran Service Officer for the VFW.”
Sage mentioned that Strong was a dedicated soldier and advocate and a man who loved playing slow-pitch softball, competing in dirt bike races and singing karaoke.
“He is deeply missed by all who knew him,” Sage said.
Strong’s military career lasted 25 years, beginning when he enlisted in the Army National Guard in 1989. His commitment saw him deployed to Kuwait, Iraq, and Afghanistan, and he eventually retired as a Sergeant First Class in 2014.
Yet, even after retirement, he continued to serve those who had served, working tirelessly to support veterans in accessing the benefits they earned.
Dr. Hank Deiters is a veteran and a physical therapist at the hospital. He spoke at the event and said Strong was one of the great ones with solid character.
“If you didn’t know Greg, you really missed out,” Deiters said. “He left us for a reason nobody was expecting, and I didn’t know the last time I spoke to him would be the last.”
Deiters says Strong’s impact lives on. He told the gathering that Strong was dedicated to veterans and treated every one of them with compassion and respect.
Among those who attended was Strong’s fiancée, Debbie Barr, who shared her reflections on his legacy.
“My heart’s full,” Barr said. “He would be so happy; he would be so proud.”
Barr said Strong was proud to be a veteran, which defined him.
“He liked being recognized as a veteran,” Barr said. “He was on the track; he wanted people to know he was a veteran and support veterans.
Barr said Strong never met a stranger, especially when it comes to fellow veterans.
“He would sit down with people for hours, listening to them sharing stories,” Barr said. He wanted to be there for them. This bench is a fitting tribute for a man who embraced comforting other veterans.”
Strong’s stepdaughter, Laura Anderson, spoke passionately about his lifelong commitment to veterans and his family.
“Greg had an amazing dedication not only to the patients he served but to his country,” Anderson said. “In everything he did—he wanted people to know he was a veteran and that supporting veterans was essential to him.”
Anderson urged those who may still need to be more confident about seeking support from the VA to do so, noting the network of clinics and the understanding they provide.
“The hospital can feel overwhelming, but the smaller branches make a difference,” Anderson said. “They have people who know what it’s like, who understand.”
The commemorative bench will rest at the entrance of the AMVETS building, where Strong once worked and helped countless veterans.
“He wasn’t only proud of everything he accomplished, but he was also proud of the people he helped,” Anderson said. “Not only in their veteran career but also in helping certain ones advance into the military, and he had a different kind of pride.”
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