November 6, 2013 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • Page 7 Corporal Amy Steppe to speak on Veterans Day by enemy action, should undergo such a drastic loss of health at such a young age. Veterans’ groups, local businesses, and members of the extended family have pitched in to help with sup- port that Amy says they are not getting from the govern- ment. Midland Park’s Veterans Day services will be held at Veterans Plaza on Greenwood Avenue, located in the borough’s Wortendyke Section. The master of ceremo- nies will be Midland Park Mayor Bud O’Hagan. The invocation and benediction will be offered by The Rev- erend Lloyd Vorderstrasse of the Church of God. The flag salute will be led by VFW members Harold Allen and Joseph Sheffel. The national anthem will be sung by the Faber brothers. “Taps” will be performed by VFW members. by John Koster Corporal Amy Steppe of Ridgewood, a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps who served in Japan, will be the guest speaker at the Midland Park Veterans Day cere- mony on Nov. 11 at 11 a.m. She is known for being an engaging public speaker. Steppe’s spouse, Sergeant Mark Steppe, is a U.S. Army combat veteran of Iraq who now has a serious health issue. Cpl. Steppe is at the forefront of champion- ing her husband’s cause. Sgt. Steppe, who served in combat in Iraq in 2005- 2006, rescued two buddies under fire, rounded up 18 prisoners, and received the Combat Infantry Badge for sustained service under fire. Originally from southern California, he was an athletic and active outdoorsman. He served in South Korea before joining the infantry in Iraq. He received an honorable discharge and a number of service medals for action overseas, and was nomi- nated for the Bronze Star, a decoration for valor, due to his rescue of his two buddies and the attempted rescue of a third who died in his arms. Some months after he returned to the United States, Mark began to experience medical symptoms that were organic rather than psychological. He was forced to give up college and a part-time job. He is now a semi-invalid who walks with a cane and experiences constant pain. Amy, a long-time Ridgewood resident, and her par- ents assist with his daily needs and frequent medical appointments. They have two young sons. Amy and Mark Steppe of Ridgewood Amy reports that, at one point, Mark’s service records were lost, and she and Mark have yet to understand the exact nature of his medical problems. They continue to investigate why a once healthy man, not wounded