Patriots Day event features Vietnam War hero  

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) --  St. Joseph celebrated Patriots’ Day with a special tribute at Wyatt Park Baptist Church. 

Capt. Guy Gruters was the event's keynote speaker- A former Air Force pilot who was shot down during the Vietnam War and spent more than five years as a prisoner of war. 

“We took the opportunity to have Guy Gruters come here to St. Joe to give a talk and do a book signing all at once. We were working the event and it felt like a good time on Patriots’ Day to have him here,” said Terry Beasley, an adjutant.

The committee chose Patriots’ Day for the event as a special way to honor Gruters and so he could share his incredible journey with the community.  

Gruters said life in the communist prison camp was brutal, but prayer was what kept him going through those dark times.  

“You’re not able to do anything in the coffin, and there’s no television or radio or magazines or books of anything. All there is just a bucket for your bathroom and no get no chance to write to your family,” Gruters said.  

Gruters also noted the event is special to him because it’s not just about sharing his own story — it’s a chance to meet other veterans, hear about their experiences and connect with what they went through.  

This is the first time the committee has ever hosted an event like this, and they wanted Gruters’ presentation to leave a lasting impact on the community.  

“This is a chance to talk to a number of people about the experience, and a lot of these are Vietnam Veterans, so it's good that we get to talk about the code of conduct and things that governed our behavior in the prison camp,” Gruters said.  

Gruters said he’s given his presentation hundreds of times, but this is the first time he’s doing one of this multitude in St. Joseph.  

Organizers said their main goal was simple — get as many people from the community to come out to hear Gruters’ story and celebrate his journey.  

“We had Guy Gruters here like three years ago, and it wasn’t a special day, so he’s been here before to do his talk, and this was another opportunity to get his back and it was also on Patriots’ Day,” Beasley said.  

The committee plans to keep this event going each year and shine a spotlight on the veterans who have served, and those who continue to serve, our community through every challenge.