When a Greyhound bus dropped Don Jakeway at the town square on Aug. 24, 1945, after he served his country in World War II, there was no one to greet him, though a single Model-T Ford passed by.

He sat for a while at the corner of U.S. Route 62 and 37, picked up his duffel bag and walked the three-and-a-half miles to his family's home on Miller Road.

Sixty-three years later, about 1,600 Johnstown school district students and 400 community members gave Jakeway a hero's welcome in the high school gym on Veterans Day, Nov. 11.

School children waved American flags and the high school band played a military tribute, as the day was proclaimed "Don Jakeway Day" in Licking County by commissioner Tim Bubb. Johnstown council president Joyce Evans honored Don as a distinguished veteran and named him Johnstown's "Hometown Hero." And the Licking County Veteran Service Office named Jakeway "Veteran of the Year," presenting him an Eagle-topped award.

Jakeway, 85, was a member of the 508 Parachute Infantry Regiment. He served as a sergeant in H Company, third platoon and is a veteran of Normandy, Holland and The Battle of the Bulge in Belgium. He's decorated with four bronze stars, two purple hearts and presidential commendations, among others.

Jakeway was wounded jumping into Holland and still carries shrapnel in his head from that injury. He was wounded again in the Ardennes then was released from a Tennessee hospital on Aug. 20, 1945.

Warren Motts, an Army veteran, said many of Jakeway's service mementos are in the Motts Military Museum in Groveport.

"This guy is one great hero," he said. "He has done things most people can't accomplish."

Tears trickled down the cheeks of many adults during portions of the program that included a touching tribute to veterans when the Johnstown Choir performed "In Flanders Fields" and "America the Beautiful" as a slideshow featured photos of veterans and Jakeway as a paratrooper and in his roles as a community leader.

Congressman Pat Tiberi presented Jakeway and J-M Principal Kim Jakeway with a check for $100,000 to be used as a scholarship for a student athlete. The $5,000 scholarship will be awarded annually to a Johnstown athlete.

Tiberi said Jakeway is a hero as a result of his service to his country and the decades he has spent giving back to his community.

"He was also a great athlete," Tiberi said.

Jakeway, a 1942 graduate of J-M, earned a total of nine varsity letters in basketball, football and baseball. He gave up a scholarship to play football to go fight in the war.

The Johnnies football team autographed a football and senior Mitchell Hendren presented it to Jakeway.

"On behalf of the team, thank you for being a role model for our future," said coach Mike Carter.

Johnstown village manager Sarah Phillips said Jakeway never received his last check from the government when he was medically discharged in 1945.

"Members of this community decided you needed it," Phillips said, presenting him with a check for $1,458.

The backing for that check and the $100,000 scholarship was from Louis "Earp" Mitchell of Columbus, who only met Jakeway this past spring through Johnstown's Lucy Tavener.

"I had heard about him being a war hero," Mitchell said. "Lucy got us together and we've become close friends. He represents the best in a human being. I wanted to do something to make a statement to honor Don."

Jakeway said Tavener introduced him to Mitchell at Johnstown's Main Street Café and they "hit it off."

"He's a great man," Jakeway told The Independent. "He's like a brother."

Following several standing ovations during Tuesday's program, Jakeway thanked the community and noted the pride he has for his family -- wife Rene; sons Don, Dave and Kim; and daughter Denise.

"This is absolutely awesome," Jakeway said. "I want to make sure everyone understands that I have the utmost respect for the veterans here today. They are fantastic people. This village is so fortunate to have veterans like this in the community."

He noted that there are 600 veterans buried in Johnstown, and there are 158 members of Johnstown's American Legion Post 254 who serve the community.

"I'm humbled," Jakeway said. "I don't profess to be a hero. I followed my orders and did what I could and God almighty allowed me to come home."

Jakeway vowed to make a difference to give back to his community following his service to his country.

He kept that commitment by being one of the original organizers of Johnstown's Little League program in the 1950s. He's also a past president of the Johnstown Athletic Boosters and the Johnstown Village Council. He also heads many of the community events of the American Legion Post. (See related story.)

Jakeway has traveled all over the world, but he said there's no place more beautiful than Johnstown because of the people.

The Veterans Day program ended with the Johnstown Band playing "Taps," and the veterans standing at attention, saluting the flag.

In the respectful silence, you could have heard a pin drop.