A Veteran Gives Back
I can't think of a better way to celebrate Veterans Day than honoring one of our own. Thank you to each and every serviceman and woman who has served to protect our freedoms.
Marvin Weis served his country honorably in the U.S. Army as 2nd/8th Mechanized Infantry in Vietnam in 1967 and 1968.
“We got engaged and I got my draft notice. I went to basic training in Fort Bliss, TX. At Fort Polk, Louisiana, I did my AIT- Advanced Individual Training. When I was done in August I got a three week leave and Janet and I got married on August 27th and left for Vietnam in early September.”
It was many years later when someone paid for Marvin to fly to the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C. as part of the Kansas Honor Flight.
It was Flight 56 on April 20, 2018. It was such a moving and awesome experience,
“I saw names of men I knew on that wall,” commented Weis.
Weis felt he needed to give back. So he decided to raffle off a Henry American Eagle .22 rifle. Their slogan is Made in America or Not at All.
In a very short time, he collected $1800.00. This will cover costs for at least two others to have the same opportunity.
On Thursday, October 29th, Weis asked the Syracuse Journal to draw a name of the winner.
In a facebook live video on the Syracuse Journal page, Lee Parks’ name was drawn.
Parks received the rifle that afternoon and said, “It’s an honor to know those who served.”
The Syracuse Journal would like to take a moment to honor all the veterans who served this country proudly. And those who are currently serving today. We are grateful to you all!
For now, the Kansas Honor Flight has canceled all flights this year. They are planning on 17 flights next year. Normally they do about 10.
Jean Creson Caffrey is Marvin’s cousin who happens to serve on the Board of Directors and as a flight nurse on their trips.
Another interesting fact is that Kansas has sent more veterans to Washington, D.C. then any other state in the union.
Kansas veterans stay two nights, go to the Memorials and Arlington, to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and tour around.
They visited Fort McHenry National Monument where the Battle of Baltimore took place in 1814. It was the inspiration for Francis Scott Key to write “The Star Spangled Banner.”
Due to COVID restrictions the American Legion has canceled the annual Veterans Day dinner.
NEWS
Former Syracusan Jessie Bee Writes Book
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Einspahr Lights Up The Stage As The Nutcracker
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1999 Exchange Student Returns Reliving His Syracuse Days
Summer of August 1998, a young man from Germany set out on an adventure as an exchange student through the EF Foundation to Syracuse Kansas to attend high school for one year. Georg Motzko wanted the experience of studying in another country to become more self-confident,... [More]
Veterans Day Thank You
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1991 SHS Grad Awarded Colorado Water Commissioner of the Year Division 2
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30th Annual Classic and Antique Fly-In This Saturday
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Important Information About City of Syracuse’s Drinking Water
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Urie Takes First at Rocky Mountain Race Week
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OPINIONS
More love, less hate
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Purpose in the Pain
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Fruit of the Spirit
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Where Can God Use You Today?
A long haired shaggy white dog, likely a Great Pyrenees, showed up at our farm last week. After a couple of days, we saw it wasn’t going anywhere. We started to feed it. He let us get closer. What we found was a skinny, malnourished dog with a horrible case... [More]
How Vulnerable Are You?
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Let God
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Building Moments and Memories
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SPORTS
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SHS CHEER TAKES SECOND
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BULLDOGS OPEN FALL SEASON WITH FIRST PLACE FINISH IN GOLF
The Syracuse Bulldogs Ladies Varsity Golf Team took first at their season opener in Stanton County on Tuesday afternoon. They shot a team score of 207 at the Prairie Pines Golf Course in Johnson. The varsity team is Lanee Owens, Bronwyn Lewis, Sammy Schwieterman, Maddy... [More]
LEWIS HEADS TO STATE TRACK
Qualifying members of the high school track team traveled to Hill City Thursday, May 16 to compete in the 2-A regional meet against 15 teams, Ellinwood, Ellis, Hill City, Hoxie, Lincoln, Meade, Medicine Lodge, Oakley, Plainville, Smith Center, Stanton County, Sublette, Thomas... [More]
BULLDOGS TAKE SECOND AT REGIONALS - HEADED TO STATE
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STATE GOLF RESULTS
State golf on Monday had the Varsity Bulldogs miss playing in the finals as a team by one stroke. They finished seventh out of twelve teams. On Day 1, Brody Keller shot a 92 missing day two by two strokes. Ian Brummett shot a 95, Mason Scott and Johnny TeVelde shot... [More]
JH BASKETBALL WINS
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OBITUARIES
Mary Evelyn Drew
Mary Evelyn Drew October 8, 1924 – December 24, 2025 Mary Evelyn Libertus was born on October 8, 1924 to Ona and John Libertus in Hamilton County, Kansas. She joined four brothers—Mike, Ike, Allen, and Leroy. The family lived on a farm Ona and John purchased in... [More]
Jesse H. Melton
Jesse H. Melton passed away peacefully at his home in Granada, Colorado, on December 23, 2025, at the age of 91. He was born on April 19, 1934, in Holly, Colorado to Hershel and Dorothy (Davis) Melton. Jesse grew up in Granada, Colorado and was a proud graduate of Holly High... [More]
Gary Lee Hatcher
Gary Lee Hatcher, a beloved father, grandfather, brother, and friend, passed away peacefully on December 22, 2025, in Syracuse, Kansas, at the age of 90. Born on March 26, 1935, in Dodge City, Kansas, to Elwyn and Hattie (Pittman) Hatcher, Gary was a man whose life was... [More]
Shirley Naulls
Shirley Nadine Naulls passed away peacefully on December 9, 2025 in Denver, Colorado, at the age of 90, in the company of her sister Marjorie Hurst and niece Tracey Hall. She was born December 13, 1934 in Syracuse Kansas, to Edna and Clyde Jones. She is preceded in death... [More]
Maria Salud Garcia De Gonzalez
Maria Salud Garcia De Gonzalez passed away December 13, 2025 at the Via Christi St. Francis Hospital, in Wichita, Kansas. She was the daughter of Jose Garcia and Maria Gauadalupe Rivera. She was born December 27. 1949 in Urireo Guanajuato, Mexico. Maria grew up in Guanajuato,... [More]
William “Bill” Thomeczek
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Jerry Seybert
Recitation of the Rosary for Holly, Colorado resident, Gerald "Jerry" Seybert will be held at 10:00 a.m., followed by the Funeral Liturgy at 10:30 a.m. with Deacon Alan Medina officiating, at Valley Memorial Funeral Chapel in Holly, Colorado. Interment will follow in the... [More]
Lester Eugene Harris
Lester Eugene Harris was born on January 31, 1961 in Concordia, KS. He passed away at his home on December 4, 2025. He was the eldest son of Bill and Sharon Harris. Lester’s family moved to Syracuse, KS in 1973 where he attended Syracuse School District through... [More]
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