|
|
|
|
 The Vietnam Memorial Traveling Wall passes through downtown Wapakoneta Wednesday, September 1. Staff photo/William Laney By CARLA MEYER
Staff Writer
For 45 minutes, the roar of motorcycles could be heard passing under an American flag hanging from two ladder trucks. For 45 minutes, area residents gathered in the shadow of the Auglaize County Courthouse and Wapakoneta Fire Station waved and clapped as motorcyclists rode by.
The smiles and waves turned into clapping and cheers as the Vietnam Memorial Traveling Wall passed down Willipie Street on its way to Custenborder Field in Sidney where it was greeted by a field of American flags.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Community asked to help vet program |
|
Wednesday, 25 November 2009 |
 Veterans at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Dayton have a brighter Christmas because of gifts and items bought and collected in the Wapakoneta area. Photo provided By KAREN CAMPBELL
Staff Writer
Organizers of an annual Christmas program for veterans are again asking area community members for their support as the event, now in its 10th year, gives back to those who gave so much of themselves to the country.
“We’re asking them to do it in the spirit of giving thanks this time of year,” said organizer Ralph Reynolds, who serves as commander of the Wapakoneta Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8445.
The event was started by members of Freedom’s Colors, a local veterans group organized by Ralph Reynolds and his wife, Joyce, which plans a special holiday program for patients at the Dayton Veterans Administration (VA) Hospital, the nearest veterans’ facility in the area, which has several Wapakoneta and Auglaize County residents.
With half its members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, the small group of veterans organizing the program can use as much help as the community can give, Reynolds said.
The annual Christmas program features a homemade dinner and snacks, Christmas carols and musical performances, bingo, a visit from Santa and bags of presents for each patient.
Staff at the hospital said the program is a highlight for the 120 veterans who reside there. The Alzheimer’s Ward, which the program initially was geared toward because limitations kept them from partaking in other activities, is represented by 35 veterans from World War II, the Korean and Vietnam wars as well as the ongoing war in Iraq.
Reynolds, a U.S. Army veteran who served during the Vietnam War, asked again for the community’s support, which in the past has allowed the event to expand to the hospital’s three other wings.
“Throughout the year, but especially this time of year, we want to make sure the veterans know they are not forgotten,” Reynolds said.
He said seeing the men’s faces during the program says it all, as it’s been the only Christmas for many of them since the program began.
“I can’t imagine them not having the warmth and joy of Christmas after they’ve given so much of their lives to this country,” Reynolds said.
To help with the program, members of the community are asked to give monetary donations, as well as to donate several needed items and even baked goods.
“Without the community’s support, we couldn’t do nearly as much as we do,” Reynolds said. “It’s not us that makes it happen, it’s them. We really want to thank them for getting behind us and supporting this for 10 years.
“Their support has taken a lot of the work out of it,” he said.
Already he has received calls from people asking what they can do to help and he said anything they can give is appreciated.
He said while he knows finances are tight and there are a lot of fundraisers going on, this is an important one for the community.
Items the group is in need of for gifts include socks, undergarments, T-shirts, sweatshirts, sweatpants, lap blankets and other clothing items, especially in large through double extra-large sizes.
“Some of these are just things we need every year,” Reynolds said. “Every year we lose several patients and every year we get a lot of new ones.”
In addition to clothing, they are asking the community to donate a few fun items, too — games, large print word searches and puzzles, model airplane and car kits, coloring books, games, dominoes and radios. Items are personally selected based on each resident’s interests and abilities.
“We want to give them what they need, but also give them more than the necessities,” Reynolds said. “We never bring anything home. They use it all.
“It’s a lot of fun to support this, to see the looks on their faces and know the difference that we made,” he said. “We invite anyone in the public who hasn’t supported this in the past to do it now.”
|
|
Last Updated ( Friday, 27 November 2009 )
|
|
|
|
