Miami Valley Veterans Museum to Celebrate Veterans Day with Breakfast, Guest Speaker
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TROY - The Miami Valley Veterans Museum will celebrate Veterans Day on Nov. 11 with a free breakfast for veterans and their family members, followed by a guest speaker.
 

   The museum, located at 2245 S. County Road 25A in Troy, will serve breakfast at 8 a.m. Pastor Vickie Evans and a team of veterans and civilians from St. James Community Church will prepare the meal.
 

   The church’s St. James Caring Community of Women and St. James Men on the Move groups have been planning the event for months. Tables will feature patriotic decorations and flowers donated by a local florist.
 

   “We feel honored to be doing this for veterans to show our appreciation for what they have done and do to keep us safe,” Evans said.
 

   At 9 a.m., retired U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Paul Craft will speak. The public is welcome to attend the presentation, even if not participating in breakfast.
 

   Craft has 35 years of technical and organizational leadership experience, including service as deputy commanding general for Army Cyber and Joint Force Headquarters-Cyber (Army) at U.S. Cyber Command.
 

   A 1993 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Craft witnessed the evolution of the internet, digital communications, satellite technology, cloud architecture and cybersecurity throughout his career. He earned three master’s degrees through military and civilian educational institutions.
 

   His assignments included peacekeeping operations in Haiti, military operations along the border of North Korea and work throughout the Pacific theater. During wartime operations in the Middle East and Southwest Asia, he helped establish secure satellite and fiber communications for hundreds of critical outposts supporting U.S. and coalition forces.
 

   He concluded his military career in 2024 by directing cyber operations and active defenses for the Defense Department’s global network across three theaters simultaneously.
 

   His military honors include the Distinguished Service Medal, two Defense Superior Service Medals, three Legions of Merit and a Bronze Star Medal.
 

   After 35 years of service, Craft returned to the area in 2024. He and his wife of 33 years, Christina, who grew up on a farm outside Casstown, are building a home for their daughter, son-in-law and new grandchild on the same property near Fletcher where Craft grew up.