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After the war he received an undergraduate degree from the University of Dayton, his master’s from Miami University and his doctorate from Ohio State University. He was a teacher and administrator for over 40 years in the Lakewood City School District.

Over 10 years ago, he went to Washington D.C. with his family to visit the WWII Memorial. His son-in-law bought him a WWII veteran’s ball cap which he reluctantly wore.

At his request, they also visited the Holocaust Museum in Washington D.C. The tour guide upon seeing his hat asked him where he served. He replied he served in Europe and liberated Dachau.

She exclaimed “you liberated me.” They embraced and cried together.

In 1945 the Allies asked Alfred Hitchcock, the famous film producer, among others to film the atrocities at Dachau. Because of post-war global political concerns, the film was never released for over 50 years. Upon its release, there is the image of my 19-year-old uncle with a grappling hook removing a dead German guard from the mote surrounding the camp.

The Frontline documentary “Memory of the Camps” should be mandatory viewing for Oakwood High School seniors. I wonder if a single employee of the Oakwood City School District has ever seen or even heard of this documentary.

One month ago, Hamas terrorists supported by Iran committed the worst atrocities on Jewish people since the Holocaust. Within days, Holocaust deniers were out of the woodwork again, denying the atrocities occurred even though the terrorists themselves filmed and promoted their crimes against humanity.

While I have been disappointed with college liberal arts education for years, the recent virulent antisemitism we have seen on college campuses has been shocking. Where is the Board of Trustees of the University of Dayton denouncing such behavior? Where are the Board of Trustees of every public University in Ohio, two thirds of whom were appointed by Governor DeWine? At least the Ohio Senate unanimously passed a resolution condemning the actions of Hamas and their allies, including Iran, on their unjustifiable attack on the Israeli people.

Richard Dutro is a true American Hero. In 2020 he passed away at age 93. He did, in fact, disagree with me that he was an American hero. It was my honor to issue a proclamation in 2016 celebrating his 90^th birthday. My final Whereas…was, Richard Dutro is known throughout the State as a patriot, educator, mentor, role model, friend, father, grandfather and Cleveland Indians fan.

Why do I tell this story? Many of you know, or should know, about the yellow star attached to the clothing to identify the Jews in the camp. Did you know about the pink triangle for homosexuals, the purple triangle for Jehovah’s Witnesses, the green triangle for criminals, the red triangle for political prisoners or the black triangle for prostitutes?

As the German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer once said, “Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.”

What will you do when confronted with injustice?”