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http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...ArticleID=27213

'... Such a great honor'
Cinde Troutman celebrated as Veteran of the Year

Alicia Ebaugh
Staff Writer

MICHIGAN CITY - After she was named 2009 Veteran of the Year, it was all Cinde Troutman could do to contain her emotions.

"I want to dedicate this to my son, who has served in Iraq," she said, wiping a tear from her eye. "It is such a great honor to receive this award."

Troutman, 55, Michigan City, was this year's recipient of the award at the Red, White and Blue Ball held at the Michigan City Senior Center. She went to Iraq, too - deployed during Desert Storm in November 1990 with the Army Reserves 542nd transportation unit out of Kingsbury. Her son, Army Spc. Xanthin Luptak, 23, is currently stationed in Hawaii after an 18-month tour in Iraq starting in 2006.

"I haven't seen him in three years, but hopefully I will get to see him soon. He will be proud," Troutman said.

The Red, White and Blue Ball was the 16th annual event to benefit the Great Lakes Museum of Military History, 360 Dunes Plaza. Nominees are accepted from across the country and judged on a point system with consideration given for military time served, rank, medals, community service and service to veterans. Judges do not see the nominees' names or personal information. An accounting firm tabulates the votes and no one knows the winner's name until last year's winner reads it from a sealed envelope.

Troutman was first nominated for the award last year, she said. She is a veteran of the Michigan and the Indiana National Guard, as well as the Army Reserves, with a combined service of nearly 20 years. She is currently serving her second year as Commander of the Dunes Relief VFW Post 2536, and is a member of the DAV Chapter 23, American Legion Post 37 and VFW Ladies Auxiliary.

Troutman has volunteered at the St. Paul Soup Kitchen for five years and is a Blue Bird Leader. She is also a member of the Elks Exchangette Club.

Knowing her son would probably be deployed to Iraq when he joined the Army was difficult, Troutman said, but she knew there was nothing else he would want to do in life but serve in the Army. Her own service and his father's inspired him to go into the military.

"From a mom who's been there and done that, it was even more stressful for me. Thank goodness my daughter was here with me," she said. "He was an IED specialist, assigned to detonate unknown objects. It's a dangerous job, but someone's got to do it."