BLANCHESTER, Ohio -- More than 200 people gathered at Blanchester Veterans Memorial Park to single out one of their own Wednesday.
The wind kept the flags at attention and were occasionally louder than the presenters speaking at the podium.
The dust from the 52-year-old baseball field drifted as if a snow were mounting, but the guests held true to the cause and toughed out the weather conditions.
Communities across the country honored service men and women who answered the call to military service.
Courtney Torres from Cincinnati was there because her grandfather organized the ceremony.
"I'm actually just proud to be out here with everyone that's fought – and served our country for everything that we have now,” she said.
As a boy, Zeke Baker from Blanchester remembers meeting WWII veteran Chester L. Wilson at the park.
Baker learned how to play baseball from Wilson and eventually was mentored into the Sons of the American Legion.
"They gave us everything we need to be free here in America," said Baker.
Wilson was drafted into the Army during WW II, where he received two Purple Hearts while a part of the 83rd Division.
Wilson has strong roots in Blanchester. He served 19 years on the Service Commission.
During his tenure, he had the baseball park – where everyone was gathered – in 1957.
Torres was in awe of Wilson's contributions to the country and community.
"Just to hear everything he has done, just a little bit of it, a glimpse of it (loss for words)," said Torres.
Reactions like Torres' is why the community gathered to surprise Wilson during the event with an unveiling of a monument.
Wilson did not see the recognition coming.
"I can't believe what happened. It makes me feel very good," said Wilson, who was holding back tears. "I didn't really think they would do all of this."
Blanchester honored a man who dedicated his life to the United States and home.
