Columbus City Council, Mayor Andrew J. Ginther and museum and business partners gathered at the National Veterans Memorial Museum on Nov. 11 for a Veterans Day employee appreciation luncheon recognizing city employees who have served in the armed forces.

The event included brief speeches from Gary Hensley, AVP of business operations and strategy at the museum; Council member Nancy Day Ochower, who chairs veterans affairs for Columbus City Council; City Attorney Zach Klein; and Mayor Andrew J. Ginther. Donatos provided the lunch and Donatos representative Kevin King handed out free pizzas and thanked attendees.

The museum framed its mission as centered on veterans’ lived experience. "We are a human museum around human storytelling," Gary Hensley said, and outlined three museum platforms: national ceremonies, a StoryCorps partnership to archive veteran interviews in the National Archives, and a wellness program called VMM ECHO (Engage, Connect, Honor, Overcome). Hensley invited attendees to the museum's Veterans Day ceremony on Nov. 11 at 11 a.m., noting actor Matthew Modine will be a keynote speaker and that an exhibit related to Modine's role in Full Metal Jacket is installed in the gallery.

Council member Nancy Day Ochower described council efforts to support veterans, including a women-veteran event established during Women’s History Month (scheduled again March 19), restoration of a Memorial Day service at the Linden War Memorial, co-sponsorship of the Think Veterans First Ohio Vet Expo and co-sponsorship of the MilVets Veterans Day rally. She said the council recently presented a ceremonial resolution to the Franklin County Veterans Services Commission in appreciation of its work for veterans.

City Attorney Zach Klein and Mayor Andrew J. Ginther also spoke, thanking veterans for military service and for continuing to serve the city in municipal jobs. Mayor Ginther said roughly 10% of the city workforce has prior military service and called veterans an example of service to the community.

Donatos’ Kevin King thanked veterans on behalf of his company and the Gertie family and distributed pizzas and other recognitions to retirees and long-tenured employees. The museum and event organizers also distributed a small gift (a blanket) to attendees and asked that remaining food be shared with colleagues on the way out.

The program included a performance of the national anthem by Haley Gurkin and brief participatory moments for attendees. No formal votes or legislative actions were taken; the event was limited to recognition, information about museum programs and announcements about upcoming veteran-focused events.

Notable details extracted from remarks: approximately 10% of the city workforce have prior military service (as stated by the mayor); the museum’s StoryCorps partnership archives veteran interviews in the National Archives; VMM ECHO is described as a community-facing wellness program that connects veterans with non-veteran community partners. A ceremonial resolution to Franklin County Veterans Services Commission was presented (details of the resolution text and any formal vote were not specified).