Seventh graders from Wichita Collegiate School chalked thank-you messages at Chisholm Place. Leon Huff (above left), a private in the Army from 1952-54. Retired sergeant major Henry Bittle, who served 36 years in the Army. Four veterans and an organization were honored last month during the 7th annual Veterans Coming Home Salute hosted by PBS Kansas Channel 8. Col. Robert Hester received the Dole Distinguished Service Award for his U.S. Army career and influence on thousands of Junior ROTC members in Wichita. U.S. Air Force veteran Ronald Colbert was recognized for bringing the Vietnam Memorial Moving Wall to Valley Center earlier this year. U.S. Navy Veteran John Noonan was cited for playing “Taps” at military funerals. Herman Hicks, a pastor and U.S. Air Force veteran, was honored for his ministry in the community. Veterans Upward Bound, represented by executive director Stacia Lyday, was recognized for helping retrain veterans for the workforce in Butler, Harvey and Sedgwick counties. print