SHAWNEE TWP. (WLIO) - Residents helping thank the service of local heroes with Wreaths Across America.
There were nearly 600 wreaths placed on the graves of veterans, and there were also ceremonial wreaths displayed to honor each of the branches of the military.
This is the first year that the Shawnee Cemetery hosted an event. There were nearly 600 wreaths placed on the graves of veterans, and there were also ceremonial wreaths displayed to honor each of the branches of the military, first responders, POWs and MIAs, and the Gold Star Mothers. Lesa Wende came up with the idea to bring Wreaths Across America to Shawnee Township as a way to honor the service of the men and women that signed up to defend our country.
“So, two and a half years ago, I started here at the cemetery, and I knew it was kind of my mission; I wanted to bring Wreaths Across America here. With all the military veterans that are in this area and the veterans I have in my family, I wanted to make sure that we honor those,” says Lesa Wende, Shawnee Cemetery Wreaths Across America Coordinator.
Ohio’s Secretary of State Frank LaRose spoke at the event about the importance of Wreaths Across America. The U.S. Army Green Beret veteran sees it as a lesson on patriotism for the next generation.
Residents helping thank the service of local heroes with Wreaths Across America.
“When I came home from combat, we had Vietnam veterans there to welcome us home, and they said 'we didn’t get the welcome we should have gotten, so we are going to fix that for your generation.' I will never forget that. It was 2006; a bunch of Vietnam veterans greet us as we came home from Iraq. Now, it’s my generation’s turn to start picking up that torch and carrying it. What we are doing out here today is to teach young people about why this country is so precious, so dear, that people would sacrifice and risk, and in some cases lose, their lives for it. That is a lesson worth teaching." Frank LaRose, (R) Ohio’s Secretary of State.
Organizers are already looking forward to continuing the event. If you would like to help out, there is information on Wreaths Across America Shawnee Cemetery’s Facebook page on how you can buy a wreath for next year’s ceremony.
