WESTERVILLE, OH (13 Oct. 2022) – Students, faculty and clergy gathered on the grounds of St. Paul Catholic School, Friday, to help Reverend David Gwinner accept accolades in the forms of dedicating a flag pole in his honor as well as a letter of appreciation, presented by Cmdr. Erik Moss, Commanding Officer at Navy Talent Acquisition Group Ohio River Valley (NTAG ORV), from Rear Adm. Gregory Todd, Chief of Navy Chaplains.

“It was an honor to represent the Navy at St. Paul Catholic School’s flagpole dedication ceremony,” Cmdr. Moss stated. “He [Father Dave] spent his life serving others, both in the Navy and his parish community. His time as a Navy Chaplain means a great deal to him so it was special to honor him for his service.”

Father Dave served in the armed forces after being drafted to fight in the Vietnam War. Later when he was in his late 20’s he recalled feeling a pull to the church where he found his path to the clergy. Then, between 1990 and 2000 Father Dave served again, this time as a Navy Chaplain.

I was 28 and I was walking through a small town in Ohio when I heard a voice from above tell me that I was going to join the clergy, and after that my path was set, Father Dave related during his acceptance speech.

While serving in the Navy’s Chaplain Corp, Father Dave supported the 3rd Marine Division throughout the Pacific during the Gulf war.

“I feel deeply honored to receive this, it puts a crescendo on my service with the military and the parish” Father Dave said after the conclusion of the dedication ceremony.

“Father Dave answered the call of his country, when he dawned the cloth of our nation, and swore an oath to support and defend the constitution as a Chaplain in the world’s greatest Navy”. Cmdr. Moss, said to the crowd during his presentation speech at the event.

Cmdr. Moss finished his speech saying, “This flagpole will stand as a lastly reminder of Father Dave’s service to both his country and to the St. Paul Community.”