A West Union man was honored for his service last week by being selected to ‘flip the switch’ for the Nights of Lights at Coney Island. Sgt. Gary Call of West Union was chosen in partnership with the Salvation Army to officially kick off the holiday season at the park.
According to Local 12, Sgt. Call began his service on April 19, 1966, as a rifleman in the Second Battalion, Fourth Marines. He received his first Purple Heart within two weeks of starting his service in Vietnam. Call received his second Purple Heart on May 25, 1966, and returned from Vietnam in 1967. After his return, he served as an instructor of officers in Quantico, Virginia. Call told Local 12, “I’m lucky to be here.”
Coney Island’s Nights of Lights is a Cincinnati holiday classic! Your family will love driving through the region’s largest synchronized holiday light spectacular. You’ll experience more than two million lights synchronized to a mix of traditional and rocking holiday music. Visitors of all ages will be awed by larger-than-life Christmas trees, glowing snowflakes, dancing candy canes, fantastic tunnels of lights, and more. The display is open until January 2, 2023.
Sgt. Call currently serves as Sr. Vice Commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Manchester. He is also a member of the Purple Heart Association, DAV of West Union, and the American Legion Post 100.
For more information on the Nights of Lights at Coney Island, or to buy tickets, visit: coneyislandpark.com