Veterans The Rev Roy Blake and David Morales were honored Thursday afternoon by the Sons of American Legion Post 49. Pictured, from left, are Jordan Mayfield, Roy Blake, David Morales and Ken Locke.

WARSAW — Many veterans believe the true heroes are the ones who never made it back from the wars, but as Member of Sons of American Legion Post 49 Ken Locke stated during his speech that “the real heroes never came home, but I’m not entirely sure that is true because there are many veterans that come home and are heroes in different ways.”

Locke presented the Meritorious Service Award and Order of Kosciuszko Award on behalf of the SAL at the annual Veterans Day Program in Warsaw at Lakeview Middle School Thursday afternoon, Nov. 9.

Locke, a veteran himself, told the story of the different kinds of veterans from those lost over seas to the ones who do return home. He shared the story of one of his childhood best friends, Corporal Darwin Judge who was killed in the Vietnam War at just 19 years of age, but his death was one that even years later would continue to affect Locke. “I get up everyday and look in the mirror and say, ‘You got one more than Darwin did,’” stated Locke. “I look at an older person walk … and think, ‘You got a lot more than Darwin did.’”

But he believes the ones who returns home continue to suffer from their experiences overseas. Locke explained how around 1.5 million American soldiers have returned home wounded over the course of history and how nearly 22 veterans commit suicide every day, but not every veteran stops serving when they come back.

John Sadler, a member of SAL, present the Meritorious Service Award to retired Warsaw Police Department officer David Morales. The award goes to a recipient who has displayed “outstanding service to veterans and their families going above and beyond the call of service.”

Morales enlisted in the U.S. Marines in 1982 and served until 1987 in the first battalion. He joined the reserves in 1988 and served until retirement in 2002. Morales graduated from the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy in Plainfield in 1989 and served at WPD until retiring this year. He served on the Warsaw Search and Dive Team, SWAT, and the first police mountain bike team. He served Warsaw Schools as the resource officer for 18 years and was certified as a DARE instructor. Morales was nominated for Officer of the Year twice during his time of service.

Sadler said, “Two words that come to mind when summarizes his career are defender which means guardian or protector by definition and the other is patriotism — one who loves, supports and defends his or her country and its interest with unquestionable devotion.”

Locke returned to the podium thereafter to present the “Order of Kosciuszko” Award to 90-year-old Veteran The Rev Roy Blake. Blake served as a medic in the navy from 1945-1947. However, he had to wait to serve because “when he was 17, he tried to enlist in the United States Navy, but his parents … especially his father said no. So he had to wait until he was 18 years old to go into the military.”

Blake went on after the military to serve as a teacher at Warsaw Schools from 1981-1992 and to officiate football, wrestling, baseball and softball. Blake continues to serve as a substitute teacher at Warsaw Schools and coaches football and wrestling and remains an avid Warsaw Sports Fan. Blake is being honored by Warsaw Schools with the Warsaw Athletic Complex being dedicated in his name. He also served as American Legion Post 49’s Chaplain. He continues to volunteer on the Salvation Army Board and Police Chapter.