Seabaugh, Love Honored By Lt. Governor

By Andrew Cato, ShowMe Times Sports Editor

Two of Dexter's hometown heroes were honored on Monday (July 16) afternoon at Kenady-Hanks American Legion Post 59.

Tom Love and the late Jerry Seabaugh were honored with the Veterans Service Award from Lt. Governor Peter Kinder - an award honored for continuing, distinguished community service after an individual's time in the military has ended.

"I'm doing this to recognize wonderful volunteers and veterans, whose service to us all did not end with their 'hitch' in the military. I'm here today to recognize not one, but two, of Missouri's hometown heroes," Lt. Gov. Kinder said. "This is a first - I've [given this award] all over the state, and no other town has had two of these winners."

Love served in the Marine Corps from 1962 to 1968; he achieved the rank of Captain during the Vietnam Conflict. He has continually put in hard work at AL Post 59, and even opened up Gobbler Ridge Farms and founded the Disabled Veterans Wildlife Facility. Situated in the woods just southwest of Bloomfield, the DVWF is on lease at no cost to Post 59, and the post's members manage the farm for these visitors. The facility is fully handicap-accessible, and it provides a place where families can hunt, fish, take photos, spend the night in the cabin, and just enjoy the beauty of the scenery.

"I just want to thank the group and Senator Rob Mayer for this presentation," Love said after receiving the award. "I appreciate the generosity, and I accept this in honor of the vets that benefit from what we're trying to do here."

Seabaugh, who passed away on June 16, 2012, was a Sergeant in the Missouri Army-National Guard, and was nominated for the award due to a heroic act eight years ago.

In 1994, State Representative Sue Scheer was caught in a flash flood in Jefferson City. Rep. Scheer was attempting to reach her apartment when a rush of water from a flooded street engulfed her car. Though he could not swim, Seabaugh, with no concern for himself, entered the floodwater and pulled Rep. Scheer from her rapidly-engulfing car and to safety. For his act, Seabaugh was awarded the Soldier's Medal by President Bill Clinton, the Army Commendation Medal, and the Missouri Army-National Guard's Award of the Valley Forge Cross.

"They say that adversity doesn't build character, it reveals it; Sergeant Seabaugh's heroism and patriotism were clearly revealed that April night in 1994," Lt. Gov. Kinder commented, "and his actions certainly saved that woman's life. It is my honor to present this award posthumously to the family of Jerry Seabaugh."

Lt. Gov. Kinder also pointed out programs enacted during his tenure that benefit Missouri Veterans, and noted them as a strong source of pride for the state.

"In my years in Jefferson City, I've been privileged, honored, and humbled to advocate for veterans. My first year on the job in 2005, we were able to pass, with Senator [Rob] Mayer's assistance, the Missouri Military Family Relief Fund. This fund is to assist the families of guardsmen and reservists who leave a job in the private sector to go into active duty," he said. "We know they suffer a drop in income, and sometimes they fall behind on a car payment, a house payment, or a utility bill, and we want to be there with a cash stipend to help them through that rough patch. That's not charity - that's emphatically done, heartfelt thanks for a job well-done."

Photos Above:
Top: Members of the late Jerry Seabaugh's family accept the Veterans Service Award from Lt. Governor Peter Kinder, Sen. Rob Mayer, and former Rep. Billy Pat Wright.
Bottom (from left): Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder, Tom Love, Carmen Love, and Sen. Rob Mayer pose with Love's award.

Below are videos of Lt. Gov. Kinder's remarks before presenting the Veterans Service Awards, as well as a photo gallery from the event.