OTTAWA/PUTNAM
COUNTY — To call the last year difficult is akin to likening the Grand
Canyon to a ditch. The COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated sacrifice, and
for none moreso than those living in long-term care facilities.
To
help ease the isolation experienced by military veterans in the
county’s nursing homes, members of Ottawa VFW Post 9142 offered gifts
this Christmas; gifts intended to assure these men and women who offered
themselves in service are, in truth, never forgotten.
“We try to
do something every year for the veterans,” Ken Wehri, chaplain at Post
9142 said, describing past years’ recognitions of gift cards — an item
they quickly moved away from — blankets, and vests. “This year, what are
we going to do? My daughter works at Phantasm, and she suggested
something like this.”
Wehri held up a banner of blue felt, trimmed
in white, and embroidered with gold letters spelling out the legend,
“Armed Forces Veteran.” A pine dowel rod runs through a sewed fold at
the top. The ends of the rod are capped with M1 shell casings policed up
after ceremonies held throughout the county. A red string at the top
serves as a hanger.
Wehri said the banners were delivered to 21
veterans in nursing homes throughout the county: the Meadows of Ottawa,
Kalida and Leipsic; Autumn Court and Putnam Heritage in Ottawa; and
Pandora’s Hilty Home.
“I’d been trying to get the activities
directors at the nursing homes to designate that there’s a veteran in
the room somehow; by putting a star on the doorframe,” Wehri explained.
“We went this route, and I called them all and they said, yeah, this
would work.”
Contributing to the design and manufacture of the
banners, as well as assisting with the cost, were Phantasm Design,
County Wide Designs, and Schimmoeller Construction. Once assembled —
Wehri cut the rods to size, and mounted the shell casings — the banners
were provided to the aforementioned facilities, staff members at which
hung them on the veterans doors.
Both Wehri and Post 9142
Commander Frank Alafa commented this year has proven challenging for
veterans and their families. Ceremonies typically commemorating their
sacrifices were canceled, as were many honor guard presentations at
funerals.
“When this COVID really hit back in May and June, we
couldn’t give the veterans a 21-gun salute at the cemetary, because the
VFW canceled all that out,” Alafa said.
When restrictions briefly
eased and such honors were again permitted, Honor Guard members
presented their salutes to the recently deceased, and invited those OVERSET FOLLOWS:families whose veterans passed previously special, albeit delayed, salutes for their loved ones.
With
the banners, post members continue to honor their fellow veterans, and
offer a continuing reminder of their sacrifices to all who pass their
doors.