YOUNGSTOWN — Approximately 50 people attended the annual Veterans Day service Saturday morning in the Mahoning County Courthouse rotunda, including 101-year old Ruth Wallace-Ketzel, an Army nurse during World War II.

The ceremony was sponsored by the Mahoning County Veterans Service Commission, and was led by Roderick Hosler of Boardman. Near the podium was the empty chair representing POW-MIAs. Struthers resident Candace Campana sang the national anthem, and Susan Krawchyk, of Koppel, Pa., the executive director of the veterans service commission, introduced guest speaker, Sgt. 1st Class Kim McGinness.

McGinness, now a Lowellville resident, grew up on a farm in North Carolina. Her life changed as a 17-year-old when she saw the 9/11 attacks on television. She experienced “a feeling of helplessness, but from that moment I knew I had a purpose” of defending her country, she said.

As a drill sergeant, she “took 1,700 men and women and turned them into soldiers.” She said when people join the military, they “sign a blank check,” being willing to go wherever they are needed. McGinnis is proof of this, as the Purple Heart recipient was injured by an improvised explosive device in Iraq.

Navy veteran Holly Niotti-Soltesz of Austintown said these Veterans Day services are important in order to “honor those that came before us, as well as those who will come after us.”

Everett Oliver, commander of American Legion Post 247 in Lowellville, attends as many events as he can get to, including speaking earlier at Lowellville High School.

“Some people don’t understand what most of the soldiers have been through and maybe they can learn a little bit,” he said.

Marine Corps veteran Mike Lyon of Youngstown said it helps to “get members of the community to think about them and appreciate what they’ve done.” He said he struggles to leave the house and when he does he always looks for potential attacks and checks where the exits are. He said what calms his anxiety more than anything else is when people express their thanks, helping him feel his sacrifices were meaningful.

Leo Connelly of Boardman, commander of the Ohio Military Order of the Purple Heart, noted that Youngstown has the official designation of being a “Purple Heart City.” He said he loves living in Mahoning County because of its gratitude for Valley veterans.

Mark Carver of New Springfield, a member of the Tri-State Marine Corps Detachment League, said services like the one Saturday are important to remind the public what it means to be a soldier.

“At a moment’s notice, they pack up and they’re gone. They leave friends and family behind until they hopefully go home again,” he said.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, a contingent of veterans, including Niotti-Soltesz, Stanley Clingerman of Beaver Township, Tony Viano of Boardman and Genevieve Douglas of Austintown, walked from the courthouse to the Vietnam Memorial across from Central Square, laying a single rose and offering a salute.