Former Marine Gunnery Sgt. Nicholas A. Popaditch will be the keynote speaker Saturday afternoon at a “Welcoming the Troops Home” program from noon to 4 p.m. in the city building at Sixth Avenue and Mechanic Street.
Popaditch, now an author, speaker and student at San Diego State University, received attention when a news photograph of him was seen around the globe shortly after the American invasion of Iraq.
Popaditch was pictured sitting on his tank, smoking a cigar, as a statue of Saddam Hussein was pulled down in Baghdad in April 2003.
About one year later, Popaditch almost died during a fight in Fallujah, when a piece from a rocket-propelled grenade struck him in the face. He lost his right eye and about 92 percent of the vision in his left eye.
He was discharged from the Marines for medical reasons.
Since his recovery, he has been studying at San Diego State University to become a teacher; he also tours as a motivational speaker and has written a book.
The book, “Once a Marine: An Iraq War Tank Commander’s Inspirational Memoir of Combat, Courage and Recovery,” is on sale at Town Crier, where Popaditch will be available to sign copies of the book at approximately 9 a.m. Saturday.
Popaditch’s appearance and related activities are intended to bring attention to Emporia’s role as a leader in veterans’ issues.
“We’re trying to let the world know that we’re the founding city of Veterans’ Day,” said Jesse Solis, one of the event organizers.
Arrangements for Popaditch’s participation were made by Randolph Cabral of Wichita, a friend of Solis and the creator of the Braille American flags that Solis and others have distributed throughout Emporia and at the Capitol in Topeka.
Member of groups supporting the event — the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, Vietnam Veterans and others — have invited national and state senators and representatives, as well as Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, to attend. Service members from Fort Riley also has been invited as special guests.
Solis said that veterans and people currently in the military are especially welcome to attend the event, which is open to the public.
Sadie Cope will sing the national anthem to open the presentation at 1 p.m. and The Dave and Friends Band of Wichita also will perform.
Hot dogs and soda pop will be provided free of charge to those who attend, and admission is free.
The event, previously scheduled for Soden’s Grove, has been moved to the Little Theater in the city building. If the crowd size warrants a change, the activities will move downstairs to W.L. White Auditorium, Solis said.
Underwriters for the program include Casey Mussato of Mussatto Brothers in Osage City, Emporia Coca-Cola, Pepsi and Jeremy Hinkle, who will provide lodging for Popaditch at the Days Inn Motel.
Marty (anonymous) says...
I am so glad to see this, and wish I could be there, but live in California. I am a big fan, and Google alerts located this mention of him.
I heard this Marine at a bookstore signing. He changed my life in a positive way. I cannot urge you enough to take the time to meet this man.
Nick Popaditch (known as Gunny Pop or The Cigar Marine (Google that) is the author a great new book I recently finished his ONCE A MARINE (www.onceamarine.com). He is wonderful–powerful, humble, gracious, and handsome even in an eye patch! He was terriblly wounded, is effectively blind (he was hit in the head with a rocket in Fallujah while commanding his tank), and the whole thing was caught on CNN. I think the footage is on his website.
Meet him, take your kids, and be inspired by a real hero. Your only regret will be that you could not spend more time with him.
Marty
March 25, 2009 at 6:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )