WAPAKONETA, OH (WLIO) - The last Sunday of every September is Gold Star Mother's Day- a time dedicated to honoring the bravery and hardship experienced by those left behind when a U.S. military member dies serving their country. Wapakoneta rallied together to show their support this weekend.
Last summer, downtown Wapakoneta became the site of the 101st Gold Star Family Memorial Monument. This year, the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 1126 began a new tradition, holding an hour-long ceremony to honor and share the experiences of those who have received the gold star after a member of their family died during their service.
"It's a personal loss, it's, as I stated in my opening remarks, it's a military award but nobody wants it. Nobody wants it. So, these people had to take it, they were forced to take it, and now we need to honor them because of their loss," explained Mike Borges, the president of the V.V.A. Chapter 1126.
It takes strong parents to raise someone who can and will serve in the armed forces, and even stronger parents to bury their own child. The family of a local fallen army sergeant, 26-year-old Mike Schoolcraft, was invited to conclude the ceremonies with the laying of a wreath by the monument in his and their honor.
"He was killed in Iraq, he was a young man killed in January 2018. He's from Cridersville, and his mother still lives in Cridersville, and his sisters," said Ace Ambos, the secretary and treasurer of V.V.A. Chapter 1126.
The community of Wapakoneta has always been supportive of the military, veterans, and fallen soldiers. They stepped up to raise the necessary funding for the Gold Star Monument, and now they will continue to show that support to the families of those who have died protecting our freedoms.
"This will go on every year. From now on, the last Sunday in September, we'll be here. We will be here," Borges said.
"It's important that we always remember the sacrifices families have made in the area. And not just Wapak, just all over the community, all the other communities, counties, that we remember we remember the sacrifices they made when they lost a loved one in a time of war," added Ambos.
