Veteran of the Year explains what it means to serve
By Cathy Willoughby, cwilloughby@advertiser-tribune.comArticle Photos
Helping to give veterans their final military send-off is just one of the reasons Paul Kimmet of Tiffin was selected as this year's Veteran of the Year. ... He continues to serve his country at the age of 90.
Kimmet was recognized for his service during a dinner Nov. 7 at Tiffin VFW, with about 100 people in attendance. Kimmet is a World War II veteran who served in the Pacific theater.
Inducted into the Army in 1941, he served in the Army Tank Corps.
"I belong to the United Veterans Council, and do military funerals with them," Kimmet said. "I've been doing this for 34 years."
"A week ago Friday, a group of us went down to the National Cemetery in Rittman and participated in funerals for the day. I attended seven funerals on one Friday."
This year, Kimmet said he and other area veterans participated in a total of 60 funerals.
"There are about 12 to 15 of us, out of a group of about 45 area veterans, who do the military funerals," he said. "Some work, and can't participate during the week. We all take turns firing the rifle, folding the flag and holding the flag out for the relatives. It's an honor to be there to present the flag to them."
He said he feels it's important to be active in the local veterans organizations, supporting each other and the families involved.
"Pauly has been on the honor guard for 34 years," said Jim McAuliffe, of the United Veterans Council. He makes just about every military funeral that the United Veterans Council does."
Kimmet also has served as an officer over the years for every veterans organization in the Tiffin area, including The Veterans of Foreign Wars, DAV and AMVETS.
"He has belonged to and worked with all of them," McAuliffe said.
He still is active with the local AMVETS, VFW post and United Veterans Council. He had the position of Post Commander at Tiffin AMVETS from 1989-1991. Kimmet also is a member of the Ohio Sad Sacks, which provides money for nursing scholarships, and he has held offices in Post 48 and District Sad Sacks.
"He participates in local parades and is a member of the Honor Guard for military funerals," said Kimmet's daughter, Terri Kauffman. "No matter what the weather, even if it's only 20 degrees and raining or snowing, he will be at the gravesite to comfort the family and honor the service of a fallen soldier."
"As a member of the Veterans Council, we go out in the heat of summer or the cold of winter," Kimmet said. "It's our provision, our duty to do it."
The Veterans Council, including Kimmet, participated in the Veterans Day observance at Heidelberg University last week.
"We do that every year to help younger people who don't know what veterans stand for," he explained. "If not for veterans, we wouldn't be free. And we're still not free."
