ASHLAND — Ashland’s 11th annual Veterans Appreciation Day featured Huey helicopter rides, a free lunch and a drone show, among other activities on Saturday.
The event also had several family-friendly games, booths and vendors. Event organizers previously told Ashland Source they hoped to honor veterans’ families this year, in addition to the sacrifices service members made.
Still, several organizations offering services and resources specific to veterans also returned this year.
The event kicked off with comments from Ashland County Sheriff E. Wayne Risner, a poem from Jack Cadley, a local veteran, and a representative from Attorney General Dave Yost’s office.
Yost attended the last Veterans Appreciation Day, when the Vietnam Memorial Traveling Wall came to Ashland for the event’s 10th anniversary.
State Rep. Melanie Miller also sang the National Anthem at the event.
Sandy Burkholder, who led the efforts to organize this year’s event, also read a statement from U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan.
Ashland sits in Jordan’s congressional district, and the congressman was originally scheduled to attend the event.
Jordan’s statement quoted from Paul’s letter to the Romans.
“In Paul’s letter to the Romans, we are instructed to give everyone whatever we owe them. ‘If tribute, then tribute. If respect, then respect. If honor, then honor,'” Burkholder said while reading Jordan’s statement.
“Yet, as we pause to acknowledge the sacrifices of our veterans, we know that we can never adequately render to them the full measure of respect and honor that they are due.”
Burkholder, for her part, said Veterans Appreciation Day couldn’t have happened without a team effort.
“I appreciate everybody that’s been serving with me to make this happen, and it’s for an awesome cause,” Burkholder said. “And for you veterans, you guys mean so much to us.”
Below is a gallery of photos from the event.
