Briljent is a grateful supporter of military veterans and those currently serving in our armed forces. Kathy Carrier, Briljent’s company president and owner, proudly supports her son, Mike, who is currently serving in the military. Within Briljent’s own ranks are several military veterans, as well as the many Briljent employees who have relatives or friends who have served us well to defend our many freedoms. It is with great respect that we honor those who have given the ultimate sacrifice of their life to defend our great country. We recognize that we enjoy many blessings that have come at great cost to others. The company and its employees sincerely appreciate all that they have done and are doing for our country. Our thoughts, prayers, and thanks are always with them. The following story comes from one of our team members who recently shared a truly great hero story.
On Wednesday, February 6th of this year, I was thrilled to be able to participate, along with others in my family, in what we first thought was simply a Bronze Medal ceremony for my Uncle John at the Danville, IL Veteran’s Administration facility, where he has lived for the past few months. Most of my family braved the weather and traveled to the VA facility from Northwest Indiana to be there and we all thought my uncle, an Army Infantryman in WWII, was simply receiving a Bronze medal. However, we were pleasantly surprised that he was actually presented with nine medals, including one that recognized his POW status. They had a amazing ceremony for him there. At age 18 he was captured in North Africa and sent to the German Stalag 2B, where he was tortured, and sent to solitary confinement and beaten to unconsciousness multiple times, yet finally escaped on a work detail that he wisely volunteered for. He was finally liberated sometime later. None of us had ever heard the whole, real story as he never talked about his military involvement as we were growing up. He was also awarded a lifetime honorary AMVETS membership. Although the recognition was long overdue (Uncle John is in his early 80’s now) my uncle (who is also my godparent) was honored and we are all proud of his and other Veterans’ service to our country and appreciate the sacrifices he and they made.
Anna Deahl
