RITTMAN: A crowd of more than 200 people consisting of veterans, friends and families of veterans and those who simply wished to honor the fallen gathered on Saturday at Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery to solemnly remember the men and women who have served and died in the military.
The wreath-laying ceremony with the theme of “Then, Now and Forever” featured members of each of the military branches placing wreaths onto their respective seals around the cemetery’s flag post as part of the annual Wreaths Across America initiative.
That is a national nonprofit organization founded to continue and expand the annual wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery that was begun in 1992 and expanded to other national military cemeteries in 2006.
The flag at the center of the Rittman ceremony was at half staff, in wake of Friday’s shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut.
During the brief ceremony, all of the branches of the military were honored along with those currently serving, the Merchant Marine, prisoners of war and those still missing in action.
During his speech, retired Ohio Army National Guard colonel Ted M. Stults II of Jackson Township asked attendees not to forget the fallen including the more than 93,000 POW/MIA.
He urged those in attendance to remind their children “that freedom is not free, it comes at a cost that you may have to pay someday yourself.”
Stults, the master of ceremonies, also encouraged those at the ceremony to visit a grave, write down the soldier’s name and later research them online. “They were and still are more than just a statistic,” he said.
Prior to the ceremony, more than 2,800 wreaths were laid on graves by members of the Civil Air Patrol and the Rolling Thunder Motorcycle Club, both sponsors of the local event. Those groups were assisted by a group of young Marines, and the Wooster-based 555th Honors Detachment, also known as “The Triple Nickel.”
Rick Roberts of Lodi brought his daughter, Katie, and son, Brady, to the ceremony.
“My father was buried here about a year ago so we came last year and this year just out of respect,” Roberts said.
Roberts said he comes from a military family, his father served in Korea, and both he and a brother served in the Air Force, and he wanted to be sure his children understood the sacrifice.
“Freedom and respect,” Roberts said.
“Just teaching them a little about respect and how to respect everybody who served and died for us,” he said.
“It’s amazing how many people served,” Roberts said remarking on how many more graves have been added since his father’s internment.
“A lot of emotions, especially when they play taps,” he said.
“It’s an ending in a way, but it’s a good feeling. It’s why you and I are standing here,” Roberts said.
Malcom X. Abram can be reached at 330-996-3758 or mabram@thebeaconjournal.com.