Above: Lyon County State Bank proudly honors local veterans. The bank’s Emporia location features banners recognizing community members who have served, including Kansas banker Russell “Rusty” Bonitatibus, Jr., a U.S. Navy and Army National Guard veteran.
Emporia, Kansas, proudly holds the title of the Founding City of Veterans Day, a legacy rooted in local conviction and national recognition. In 1953, Emporia resident Alvin J. King proposed changing Armistice Day to Veterans Day so that all U.S. veterans, from every war and conflict, would be honored. With support from Congressman Ed Rees, that idea became federal law in 1954, and in 2003, Congress formally declared Emporia as the founding city of the holiday.
That tradition of service continues today through Freedom Fest, Emporia’s annual Veterans Day celebration honoring service and sacrifice through community participation. Among the organizations proudly supporting the event is Lyon County State Bank (LCSB). This trusted hometown community bank has served Emporia since 1913 and built a reputation for unwavering community commitment.
Each year, LCSB not only sponsors Freedom Fest’s Freedom Ride, 5K Run and family activities, but also honors veterans through its Veteran Banner Program, which displays dozens of local heroes on the bank’s building at no cost to families. The bank’s dedication goes beyond banners, from distributing Veteran Challenge Coins and maintaining a community billboard thanking all who served, to sponsoring the USD 252 Honor Flight Program, The Wall That Heals traveling Vietnam Memorial and the Wreaths Across America initiative that places wreaths on local veterans’ graves during the holidays.
Through both financial support and hands-on volunteerism, LCSB’s employees exemplify the bank’s mission of “Building Friends, Families and Futures,” living proof that Emporia’s spirit of service still runs deep.
For Russell “Rusty/Russ” Bonitatibus, Jr., Senior Vice President at Lyon County State Bank and a proud U.S. Navy veteran, Freedom Fest is more than an event. It’s a reflection of community pride and a personal reminder of his own journey of service.
Originally from Milford, Connecticut, Russ enlisted in the Navy in 1981 at just 17 years old, inspired by the sight of ships sailing through Long Island Sound near his childhood home. After completing boot camp at Great Lakes, Illinois, he trained at the Shipboard School in Norfolk, Virginia, where he once helped secure old battleships during a coastal storm, an early glimpse into the hands-on work of naval service.
He was later assigned to the USS Saratoga (CV-60), a Forrestal-class aircraft carrier then undergoing overhaul at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. Russ lived aboard Saratoga during its refit. He later deployed out of Mayport, Florida, where the ship conducted sea trials and readiness exercises off Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, before heading on two extended Mediterranean Sea deployments. His time aboard “Super Sara” included rigorous training operations, shipboard firefighting and medical drills to prepare crews for combat conditions, as well as visits to multiple countries. His last tour in the Navy was at the Naval Air Maintenance Training Center at Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, Florida, where he was awarded the Navy Achievement Medal from the Secretary of the Navy.
Following active duty, Russ served one additional year in the Army National Guard Infantry, continuing his commitment to service before transitioning to civilian life.
Today, Russ helps coordinate LCSB’s Freedom Fest sponsorship, and each year, he personally rides in the 20-mile Freedom Ride, joining veterans, cyclists and neighbors in honoring the spirit of Veterans Day and the community that continues to celebrate those who serve.
Q&A with Russell Bonitatibus, Jr.
Community and Veteran Support
Emporia is known as the Founding City of Veterans Day. How does that history influence the bank’s commitment to community service and patriotism?
Lyon County State Bank has been part of the Emporia community since 1913 and has always been a strong supporter of local service organizations, community projects and businesses. Our core mission statement — “Building Friends, Families and Futures” — perfectly reflects that. Everything we do is connected to our community and grounded in patriotism.
Beyond Freedom Fest, what other ways does Lyon County State Bank give back to veterans and local service organizations?
The bank runs a Veteran Banner Program each year at no cost to veterans or their families. Customers and non-customers can apply to have a banner of their veteran displayed on the bank’s building, and we cover all production and installation costs. Families often come to town during Veterans Day events to take photos with their banners. It’s really touching to see their reactions.
Each honored veteran, or their family if the veteran is deceased, receives a free 20-inch by 10-inch color poster of the banner. We also display a billboard thanking all veterans for their service and hand out Veteran Challenge Coins that read “Thank You for Your Service” on one side and “Honoring All Who Serve” on the other.
Our bank has supported the USD 252 Honor Flight Program, served as a major sponsor of The Wall That Heals traveling Vietnam Memorial and purchased a custom steel veterans’ bench for the Emporia Veterans Memorial Park. We also participate in Wreaths Across America, purchasing wreaths to be placed on veterans’ graves in Maplewood Memorial Cemetery during the holidays.
Personally, I serve on the USD 252 Honor Flight Board, helping raise funds to send veterans to Washington, D.C. I’m also a member of Emporia Legion Post #5, and I serve on subcommittees for both Wreaths Across America and Freedom Fest.
How does community involvement like this align with the bank’s overall mission and values?
It fits perfectly with our mission of “Building Friends, Families and Futures.” Making our community a great place to live takes individuals and businesses working together toward a shared purpose. Patriotism and community service go hand in hand.
What impact do events like Freedom Fest have on the community — especially on younger generations?
Freedom Fest promotes patriotism, love of the country and appreciation for those who have sacrificed so we can enjoy our freedoms. It’s a chance to reflect on both history and the future.
The USD 252 Honor Flight Program is especially powerful. Each veteran who travels to Washington, D.C., is paired with a student guardian — a high school student who assists the veteran throughout the trip. These students push wheelchairs, accompany veterans to memorials and listen to their stories. It builds a connection between generations that you won’t find in textbooks. To our knowledge, this is the only Honor Flight chapter in the nation that uses student guardians, and it truly helps younger generations understand the meaning of service and sacrifice.
Hi-Noon Emporia Kiwanis Club (2002–2003)
As President of the Hi-Noon Emporia Kiwanis Club, Russ exemplified a spirit of service and leadership, continuing his long-standing commitment to strengthening the Emporia community.
Personal Connection: Russ’s Perspective
As a veteran yourself, what does it mean to see Lyon County State Bank supporting events like Freedom Fest?
It makes me proud, humbled, and appreciative. I’m proud to be part of a bank that honors me and so many other veterans — with the Veteran Banner Program, Challenge Coins, the Thank You for Your Service Billboard and even patriotic tote bags we give out. LCSB’s financial support for Freedom Fest, The Wall That Heals and the Honor Flight Program really stand out. I’ve also personally been on the Honor Flight — and it was an incredible, emotional experience.
What goes through your mind during Freedom Fest, seeing the community and veterans come together in honor and celebration?
Pride. Gratitude. Reflection. You see the flags, the runners, the families gathered — and it’s emotional. There’s a shared appreciation for what veterans have done and what freedom really means. It’s a reminder of sacrifice and of how this community continues to honor it year after year.
What was it like to live on an aircraft carrier that had around 5,000 sailors and over 90 assorted aircraft?
I was stationed on the USS Saratoga aircraft carrier, which was over 1,063 feet long — more than three football fields placed end to end. When deployed, the ship carried a crew of about 5,000 sailors and Marines, along with more than 90 aircraft, including the F-14 Tomcat, A-6 Intruder and A-7 Corsair.
Reveille was at 6:00 a.m., and taps were at midnight. I usually arrived at the office around 7:00 a.m. after breakfast and went to bed at taps. The ship was like a small city, complete with a barbershop, post office, convenience store, two chow halls, dental and medical offices, a surgical unit, library, weight room and a recreation office where you could check out items.
Everyone on board had to be trained in firefighting, medical response, nuclear and biological defense, and damage control, among other areas. The sleeping conditions were rough — you slept in “coffin-like” steel racks with a two-inch mattress, a wool blanket, a pillow and a sheet. Each rack had a small reading light and a curtain for privacy. All of your clothing, food, books and personal items had to fit in a two-by-two-foot storage locker.
My berthing area housed about 40 sailors, but some places had hundreds. It was challenging to sleep with constant shift changes, running showers and people getting ready for duty, as well as aircraft taking off and landing directly above your head 24/7. The bathrooms were stainless steel, and the showers were narrow with a small hose and nozzle that had to be pressed to get water, which wasn’t much. Sometimes the water was too hot, too cold or smelled like jet fuel.
The ship handled all uniform laundry, but there was no guarantee your clothes would come back to you — or come back clean. If they didn’t, you had to buy replacements out of your own pocket. Mealtimes could be just as challenging; chow lines often stretched for an hour or more. They served breakfast, lunch, dinner and a late-night meal around 10:00 p.m., called “Midrats,” which was made up of leftovers from the day. The food was replenished at sea, and for the most part, it was excellent, especially breakfast.
“Liberty Call” was much like the chow line — you often waited hours to get off the ship. Not everyone could take liberty at once in an emergency, so we rotated in two- or three-shifts. Because we were a carrier, we never docked directly at port. Instead, we anchored miles offshore and took “Liberty Boats,” small dinghies that were often wet, rough, and they took time.
Liberty was always worth it, though. I visited Italy, France, Spain, Singapore, Yugoslavia, Egypt, Africa, the Bahamas, the Virgin Islands, Fort Lauderdale and Diego Garcia, and I traveled through the Suez Canal. Before each port visit, we were given a small booklet outlining local customs and laws so we could avoid trouble, since breaking a law could result in detention. I really enjoyed experiencing the different cultures and foods in those ports.
While in port, I lived aboard the ship as part of the “ship’s company.” During those times, we only had breakfast, lunch and dinner on board, with no laundry, dental or medical services available — you had to use on-base facilities and pay for them (except for medical and dental). We parked far from the ship and took a base bus to get around. With a base pay of $800, I couldn’t afford a car at first, so I walked or took the local bus. Fortunately, the base had essentials such as a grocery store, restaurants, a bar, laundry facilities, a recreation center and a hospital, all accessible by bus.
Eventually, during my second enlistment at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, I was able to buy a vehicle.
Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce (2019)
Recognized for his outstanding leadership and dedication, Russ served as Chairman of the Board for the Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce in 2019 — continuing a career defined by civic engagement and community impact.
National Leadership Emporia Program — Eighteenth Class
Completing the Leadership Emporia Program, Russ was honored for his dedication, drive and vision for the city’s future — a reflection of his belief in developing strong leaders and vibrant communities. Russ was also a facilitator for the Kansas Leadership of Emporia Program.
National Commercial Lending School — University of Oklahoma (1996)
A lifelong learner, Russ completed the National Commercial Lending School through the American Bankers Association’s Executive Schools Division in 1996, furthering his expertise in finance and his commitment to professional excellence. Russ later served as a KBA instructor for correspondence and classroom courses.
Closing Reflection
Through programs like Freedom Fest, the Veteran Banner display and the countless initiatives LCSB supports year-round, the message is clear: Emporia’s legacy of honoring service is alive and well. And for Russ Bonitatibus, a sailor turned community banker, that’s what it’s all about — carrying the spirit of service forward, one relationship and one community event at a time.
“My military background shaped my life and the principles I live by, belief in God, country and family,” Russ said. “It taught me to lead by example, to be compassionate, to volunteer, to work as a team and to stay disciplined. It also gave me the drive to be self-motivated and always do my best. Those lessons carry over into everything I do at the bank and in the community.”
