Batavia honors 'devotion to duty'

Batavia officials honored two returning servicemen on Monday night.

The City Council issued proclamations thanking Marine Lance Cpls. Rob Issel and Ben Kielion for their "untiring, unfailing, unflinching devotion to duty."

"Thank you for stepping forward," Mayor Jeff Schielke said. "Batavia is honored to have such men and women in our ranks."

Both men recently finished a seven-month tour of duty in Iraq.

Issel thanked the council and Batavia Cares, the group that started the recognition program and also sends care packages to local troops.

"This means a lot," he said. "Not a lot of guys get packages, and it's great that I get stuff that I can share with them."

Kielion asked the group to continue supporting troops still overseas.

"I appreciate everyone's support," he said.

The council started recognizing returning soldiers with proclamations and gold coins from Batavia Cares this summer.

Schielke said that although it "raised some eyebrows" when it began, the city has a long history of recognizing returning servicemen and women.

Batavia has had more than 2,000 residents enlisted in the military, and 46 have lost their lives in combat, according to the city.