Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder Press Releases
July 16, 2012
Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder presents Veterans Service Awards to Tom Love, Jerry Seabaugh of Dexter
DEXTER – Missouri Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder today (Monday, July 16) presented Tom Love and Jerry Seabaugh of Dexter with the Lieutenant Governor’s Veterans Service Award in recognition of their volunteerism in the Dexter area.
Lt. Governor Kinder made the presentations at Kenady –Hanks American Legion Post #59 in Dexter. Love, who was nominated for the award by Sen. Robert Mayer of Dexter, has been a longtime member of the American Legion Post in Dexter. Recently, he was the driving force in the completion of the Disabled Veteran Wildlife Facility, situated on 125 acres of Gobbler Ridge Farms in Stoddard County.
The facility is a place for disabled veterans and their families to enjoy outdoor activities, such as hunting, fishing, photography or simply relaxing in the outdoors.
“As a young man, Tom Love served his nation in the Marine Corps from 1962-1968 as a Captain in Marine Air Group 32 during the Vietnam War,” Kinder said. “Like many of Missouri’s veterans, his service didn’t end when his hitch in the Marines was over. Instead, Tom has continued to serve Missouri and the Dexter area, giving back to his community through his many years of work with the Kenady-Hanks American Legion Post. Through his efforts and leadership, disabled veterans and their families from the area are able to enjoy the Disabled Veteran Wildlife Facility in Stoddard County.”
Seabaugh, who was nominated for the award by Rep. Billy Pat Wright of Dexter, received his award posthumously. He died on June 18, shortly after he was nominated for the award.
Seabaugh was active for many years in the American Legion Post in Dexter. He was a sergeant in the Missouri National Guard in 1994 when then-state Rep. Sue Shear of Clayton was caught in a flash flood in Jefferson City.
Even though he couldn’t swim, Seabaugh entered the floodwater and pulled Rep. Shear from her quickly submerging vehicle and helped her to safety. For his heroism, Seabaugh was awarded the Soldiers Medal by President Bill Clinton, the Army Commendation Medal and the Missouri Army National Guard’s Award of the Valley Forge Cross.
“They say that adversity does not build character, it reveals it,” Kinder said. “Sgt. Seabaugh’s strong sense of duty, patriotism and heroism were clearly revealed on April 11, 1994, and his actions that night very likely save a woman’s life.”
Kinder received 140 nominations for the award, which recognizes Missouri veterans who provide exemplary volunteer service to their communities. Love and members of Seabaugh’s family received an official declaration from the lieutenant governor’s office recognizing their service.
“(This award) is just one small way our state can say, ‘Thank you’ to our veterans and honor the sacrifices they continue to make for their communities and their state,” Kinder said.