Batavia Township Trustee Randy Perry, left, presents Danny Bare with a plaque during a retirement celebration held for Bare May 31 at the Clermont County Veterans' Service Commission.

Batavia Township Trustee Randy Perry, left, presents Danny Bare with a plaque during a retirement celebration held for Bare May 31 at the Clermont County Veterans' Service Commission.
The office of the Clermont County Veterans’ Service Commission was packed full May 31 as dozens of community leaders and county employees stopped by to honor Danny Bare for his hard work and dedication.

Bare retired from his position as executive director of the commission after five and a half years.

Bare served in the military during the Vietnam War and earned a Purple Heart, Bronze Star and Army Commendation Medal for Valor.

When he returned home from the war, Bare worked at First National Bank and then became involved with public service as a Batavia Township trustee, director of the board of elections and municipal court bailiff before being selected as executive director of the Veterans’ Service Commission.

“Five years ago, we needed to make a quantum leap,” Cliff Riley, vice president of the commission, said. “We did a national search, and out of all the people we interviewed, Dan, our local guy, was the one”

Riley said Bare shocked the entire office with his leadership and dedication to local veterans.

“He brought his heart to the table and he is for the veterans 24-7,” Bob Derr, president of the commission, said. “We could not have wound up with a better person to do this job.”

Several government officials also thanked Bare for his contributions to the Veterans’ Service Commission including Commissioner Bob Proud, Batavia Township Trustee Randy Perry, Teresa Lewis representing Congresswoman Jean Schmidt and State Representative Danny Bubp.

“We are sad to have to do this, but this is an honor as well,” Proud said about Bare’s retirement.

In addition to elected officials, a Vietnam War veteran also requested to speak during the ceremony.

“Mr. Bare is one of my heroes,” James Roy, of Beechmont, said. “He has done more for veterans in Clermont County than anyone else.”

Roy said the reason he admires Bare is because he is a “normal pants-wearing, air-breathing human being” that has made a difference without looking for recognition or anything in return.

“These types of people are the types of people that mean something to me,” Roy said.

After being presented with several gifts, certificates and plaques, Bare talked about his experience at the Veterans’ Service Commission.

“This is overwhelming,” Bare said about being recognized.

He took a moment to thank everyone for coming to his retirement party and also thanked those who have worked with him the past five years.

“Those five men are all veterans and we are all on the same page immediately,” Bare said about the board. “They have been doing this longer than I have and the real leadership starts with a good board.”

Bare also thanked the employees who allowed him to be a leader.

“They make it happen,” Bare said. “They are the best trained team in the state. They allowed me to lead.”

Bare said he has always believed in leading by example, and has strived to do so since his days in the military.

Bare talked about a search and destroy mission he was on 44 years ago during the Vietnam War. He said he survived an attack where he was shot and many of his comrades, including two of his buddies, were killed.

“I came home for a purpose,” Bare said.

Bare said he remembers not long after he arrived back in Batavia, a man knocked on his door and asked if he needed anything now that he had returned home from the war.

“I know how much it meant first hand,” Bare said about veterans’ services. “That’s why I took it, take it and will always take it very serious.”

Bare said now that he is retiring he plans to spend time with his family, including his grandchildren, ride his motorcycle and learn how to play golf.

Derr said the board will begin the process of selecting a new executive director at their next board meeting. He said the new director could be promoted from within or they could open the position up to outside candidates.