The annual Gene Vance Jr. Day events are free to the public and will begin with live music at 10 a.m. May 19 at the Monongalia County Courthouse Plaza. The ceremony will be at 11 a.m., with the Ride Walk Run at noon. Info: https://www.genevancejr.org/genevancejrday2018 and the Gene Vance Jr. Day Facebook page.
MORGANTOWN — Morgantown is, again, ready to remember one of its heroes.
On May 19, Morgantown will celebrate its seventh annual Gene Vance Jr. Day, a day recognizing its namesake and founded by The Gene Vance Jr. Foundation. Michael M.J. Minc is not only the founder of the foundation, but also Vance’s brother-in-law.
Vance, from Morgantown, was a U.S. Special Forces staff sergeant, who was activated on Sept. 11, 2001, and sent to Afghanistan as part of the West Virginia National Guard 2nd Battalion of the 19th Special Forces Unit.
He was the first American killed on foreign soil in Operation Enduring Freedom and the first National Guard soldier killed in action since 1969.
Despite his injuries, Vance used his training as a linguist to get his brothers in arms to safety following an enemy ambush. He died shortly after.
That was May 19, 2002.
Since 2012, a ceremony has been held in Morgantown to recognize the actions of Vance as well as other military members.
Minc said the foundation is focused on the catastrophically injured returning from the war, first responders who are being catastrophically injured in the line of duty, and also those injured by terrorism.
The injuries sustained in war involve loss of limbs and catastrophic injury, many previously unseen. Now, they have some of the leading professionals in medical science, specifically in reconstructive microsurgery and vascularized composite allotransplantation, which is the transplantation of faces, arms and legs. They offer cutting-edge medical education in collaboration with military and other institutions to face these previously unheard of challenges. Recently, they’ve introduced direct survivor assistance.
When 9/11 happened, Gene was managing a sporting goods store, working on his education at WVU and about to go on his honeymoon. Instead, he was sent to Afghanistan. Before he died, he saved two American soldiers and 18 Afghanis.
“That’s how the day evolved into something that recognizes the devastating cost of human life in protecting our individual freedoms, and the American way of life. It’s certainly unique to Morgantown in the sense that I never would have anticipated when I attended the ceremony in 2002 that we would still be engaged in this battle,” Minc said.
This year, the ceremony will introduce a fundraising effort for the Freedom Monument Community Project. The Freedom Ride Walk Run will help support fundraising for the project and promote healthy lifestyles.
In 2002, the idea for a permanent memorial came from the city of Morgantown. The concept has grown to become a new national monument given the historical relevance of Vance’s participation in the War on Terror.
The statue will depict Vance and another soldier, USMC Rob Jones, carrying the Torch of Freedom. Jones lost both his legs above the knee in Afghanistan and recently ran 31 marathons in 31 days, all over the world.
One of the foundation’s goals is to not only grow the event, but grow the awareness. Minc said that’s what the national monument and movement are striving for.
“We’re hopeful that the event will grow, and continue to grow and Morgantown will lead this movement of remembrance and honor, and certainly to support the wounded that are coming back. That’s our organization’s mission,” he said.
