Delaware County: Armed Forces Appreciation Day

Sunbury, OH, May 3, 2008. In a drizzling rain, the color guard for Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 25th Marines, snapped to attention in full dress uniform and presented the colors. Circuit Riders For Stratton Pastor John Harris from Richland County gave a prayer of thanks to Armed Forces personnel and their families at the commencement of Armed Forces Appreciation Day ceremonies hosted by A. D Farrow Harley-Davidson in Delaware County.

Ohio Supreme Court Justice Evelyn L. Stratton, herself a 'veteran' of the Viet Nam War, climbed upon a trailer bearing a scale model of the USS Columbus (SSN762) nuclear submarine and gave thanks to all American Armed Forces personnel and their families for their service and sacrifice to their county. Justice Stratton attended the ceremonies in conjunction with The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) to help make armed service personnel and their families aware of the mental health services that are available to them.

Justice Stratton had been a very young student in South Vietnam at the beginning of the Viet Nam War. After she returned to the states, she learned that her missionary boarding school had been evacuated to Malaysia as the North Viet Nam army closed in. She had some opportunity to share 'war stories' and to thank Viet Nam War veterans for their service during the Armed Forces Appreciation Day ceremonies.

Justice Stratton also presented a piece of original artwork of the Statue of Liberty and a 'Camo Bear' to A. D. Farrow Director of Marketing Darris Blackford as a small token of her appreciation for hosting the ceremonies. The little stuffed bear (see photo) was dressed in combat fatigues and played "I am proud to be an American." Justice Stratton had received the bear and artwork along with the 2008 Ellis Island Medal of Honor at recent ceremonies in New York City. (see accompanying story).

Several Circuit Riders For Stratton manned a small tent, handed out literature & tee-shirts and also said 'Thank-you' to everyone who attended.

And 30 miles to the south at Rickenbacker Airport in Columbus, another group of Lima Company Marines were saying good-by to their families and loved-ones. They were headed to California for training before being deployed back to Iraq. Lima Company suffered the highest loss of life of an American military unit to have served in Iraq. Three years ago, 23 of the company's Marines were killed during their tour of duty.

Ride on . . . . Ride Safe . . . . Thank you!