It was a night of farewells, welcomes and thanks as Benton's American Legion and VFW posts seated new leadership for the posts and auxiliaries.
One familiar face for both said a tearful goodbye to official duties.
After spending the last two years in a leadership role, John Metzger stepped aside as commander of the post.
"He goes above and beyond not only for the post, but for our Auxiliary and the veterans," said Freda Broadway, who presented Metzger with a plaque to honor his service.
For VFW Commander Gary Fravel, the admiration for Metzger goes beyond his service to the VFW and American Legion.
Calling Metzger, "the most unique person I know," Fravel gave a heartfelt statement about his respect for Metzger.
"He didn't have to serve," said Fravel. "He could have gotten deferments but he chose instead to turn those down and volunteered for service. He ended up in service for Vietnam. Because of that he has my undying gratitude."
Along with his work with the veterans organizations, Metzger spent more than three decades in the education field as a teacher, principal, and superintendent. He currently serves on the Benton District #47 School Board and was honored as "Citizen of the Year" by the Benton/West City Chamber of Commerce.