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Ohio Army National Guard veteran Warren E. Motts (center) is inducted into the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame by retired Col. Chip Tansill (left), director of the Ohio Department of Veterans Services, and state Sen. Frank Larose. Motts, of Groveport, Ohio, served in the U.S. Army and the Ohio Army National Guard from 1959 to 1968. After separating from the National Guard, Motts leveraged his military experience working as a photographer into a civilian career, owning his own photography company and now operates the Motts Military Museum to educate the public on military history. |
COLUMBUS, Ohio (11-09-17) — The Ohio Department of Veterans Services hosted its 25th Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Nov. 9, recognizing 20 Ohioans who continued to serve their communities after their military career was finished.
Among those honored was Warren E. Motts, of Groveport, Ohio, who served in the U.S. Army and the Ohio Army National Guard from 1959 to 1968. After separating from the National Guard, Motts leveraged his expertise in photography while working at Battelle Memorial Institute, as well as starting his own company, Motts Photographic Center, Inc., which he owned for 25 years.
Motts remains active to this day, working diligently to bring attention to the history and achievements of military service members. In 1987, he founded the Motts Military Museum to educate the public on military history. He has also served on numerous boards for such organizations as the Ohio Historic Site Preservation Board, the Columbus Veterans Advisory Board and The National Center for Civil War Photography Board.
“This is an overwhelming thing. I never expected this,” Motts said. “I do things because I want to honor the veterans. It’s in my heart because of my involvement with the military in the past and it is something very special.”
The induction ceremony also marked the first public solo performance of Spc. Cece Benson of 122nd Army Band as she performed the national anthem. A native of Columbus, Ohio, Benson has been singing since she was 7. She said her desire to serve others with her talent led her to enlisting in the Ohio National Guard as a musician.
After learning that she was selected to perform for the ceremony, Benson said she was truly humbled by the experience.
“I was just in awe, seeing these veterans and their families who had given so much to Ohio. I was both humbled and proud,” she said. “It was a great honor to be able to represent the National Guard in front of these amazing men and women.”
The Ohio National Guard also supported the event with a joint color guard, brass quintet and inductee escorts.
While the event normally focuses on the service of Ohio veterans after they separate from the military, a notable exception was made this year for U.S. Navy SEAL Edward C. Byers Jr., originally from Toledo, Ohio, who received the Medal of Honor in 2016, and continues to serve on active duty.
Byers received the Medal of Honor for actions taken while deployed to Afghanistan in 2012. As part of a mission to rescue an American hostage from Taliban forces, Byers displayed remarkable courage during the mission, ensuring the safety of the hostage and his SEAL teammates.
“This (recognition) does not belong to me. It belongs to my team and everyone else I was involved with,” Byers said. “There are so many remarkable Ohioans that are now part of the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame.”
The Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame was established in 1993 to recognize the achievements of service members who continue to serve in their local communities and across Ohio. Though not a military hall of fame, the event recognizes military veterans from Ohio exclusively. |
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