Military Gala honors all who serve

NOTE: The Military Gala story that follows was inadvertently absent from the Globe’s Veterans Homecoming Week coverage. The Globe apologizes for the omission. A pictorial recap of the event is included with this story.

The 28th Annual Military Gala and Banquet was held November 10, 2024, at the Chateau on the Lake. The annual gathering, held on the Sunday evening during Veterans Homecoming Week, is styled as a formal military banquet, with veterans and active duty military joined by community leaders and supportive families and friends. 

Reading the event program is in itself a moving and educational experience, as it gives background for the ceremonies and introduces not only the participants in the evening’s program, including local and visiting military dignitaries, but also one or more guests who are not physically present. Those special heroes are being remembered in tribute to the many POW/MIA soldiers whose families still await information and emotional closure about the fate of their loved one. 

The evening started with cocktail hour and dancing to music provided by Army veteran and DJ Matt Duncan of Artistry Entertainment. Guests then moved to the formal dinner, where LT David “Mac” McAllister, USN (Ret) served as Master of Ceremonies for the evening. President of the Mess was LCDR Marvin Bucholz, USN (Ret); Veterans of the Ozarks presented the colors. Branson vocalist Doug Gabriel sang the National Anthem and led the Pledge of Allegiance, and Connie Beesley, Women’s Auxiliary Chaplain of VFW Post 4938, gave the invocation. 

Candidates with the College of the Ozarks Military Science Program assisted in presenting the symbolic “missing person” table, with hats from each service branch and an empty place setting representing comrades and family members present only in our hearts and memories. Dinner guests were asked to speak the names on the cards at each place setting and to light a candle in their honor. 

Following a series of formal toasts, a delicious dinner was served while Chris Conant provided musical entertainment. Another highlight was the 249th United States Marine Corps Birthday celebration. Marines in attendance gathered around the table for the cake cutting presided over by 1st SGT (R) Marie Voegel, who currently serves the MJROTC program at Forsyth High School. 

During intermission, guests headed outdoors to enjoy fireworks by Aaron Mayfield of A.M. Pyrotechnics. After intermission, Mary Schantag recognized the many generous sponsors and donors who make possible not only the Gala but the work of P.O.W. Network. She also introduced POW/MIA family members present, including Maria Williams McCauley whose father was a crew member of the Flying Tiger Line, with records tied up for decades due to the secret nature of their mission and its disappearance in a non-combat zone. 

Special presentations of the evening included the Avis Gutz Award for volunteerism, presented this year to Mike and Paula Conley. The Patriotism Award, established in 2002 and renamed in 2011 as the Capt. John Koutrakos Patriotism Award, was presented to Skyler Clark, a local young man whose passion is to honor and welcome veterans with handmade “thank you” mementos and fishing trips. 

Also during the presentations, Brig. GEN James Schreffler, who serves in Military Science and Patriotic Education at College of the Ozarks, shared briefly about the planned POW/MIA memorial to be added to the college’s Patriot Park. McAllister then surprised Mary Schantag with her own commemorative plaque, in recognition of her many hours of hard work. Not only does Schantag direct P.O.W. Network volunteers in planning and coordinating several Veterans Week events, but all year long on behalf of POW/MIA families as well as exposing false claims of military heroism. 

As a closing tribute, attendees stood to join Doug Gabriel in “God Bless the USA.” Connie Beesley gave the benediction, and VOTO retired the colors. Many attendees then stayed to enjoy additional music and dancing, with promises to meet again on November 9, 2025.