November 11, 2019
Nearly 10% of the City of Columbus workforce has served or
is currently serving in the military. And I think we could argue that they are
some of our very best employees because they know what it means to be mission-driven.
In Columbus, we are committed to creating a dynamic,
inclusive future for all of our residents – and our employees hold that mission
close to their hearts.
Chris Suel, for example, is committed to making our
community stronger with his work in the Department of Neighborhoods. He does
the same for our country in the Army Reserve and just returned from a year-long
deployment in Syria, Iraq and Kuwait.
Stephen Snyder-Hill joined the military in 1988 and was
deployed in 1990 for Operation Desert Storm.
He went into the U.S. Army reserves and was redeployed 20 years later in
2010 for Operation New Dawn. Stephen is
also a champion of LGBT equality. He wrote the book, Soldier of Change: From the Closet to the Forefront of the Gay Rights
Movement, and traveled the country with his husband, giving interviews and
speaking at universities, community centers and pride parades. He has worked
for 16 years in Columbus Public Health – and we are so grateful to have him
among our ranks.
Helen Carte-Jordan is a familiar face to anyone who enters
City Hall where she works in security. Before that, she served as a medic in
the Army. Helen is getting ready to retire from the City after 23 years. We are
appreciative to her commitment to our residents.
Many of our veteran employees are behind-the-scenes
specialists. Jackie Jackson, for example, spent six years in the Army, and was
stationed throughout Korea. She joined the City in 2003 and currently works in
our mailroom.
And then there’s Zane Jones, who is the Veteran Services and
ADA Coordinator for the City. He serves as a resource for both residents and
city employees looking for guidance on issues facing Veterans and people living
with disabilities. He has also serves in the Marine Corps Reserves, and spent
2019 deployed in the Republic of Georgia.
These are just a few of the stories of the veterans and
military personnel who work to make the City of Columbus the best it can be. On
this Veterans Day, I offer my heartfelt thanks to each and every one of them.