LISBON - Children and staff members at Robert Bycroft School honored veterans a day early Tuesday, remembering the names of soldiers and sailors they knew with stars on a Wall of Honor.
"It means everything to have people come out and support our troops," U.S. Navy veteran Justin Madison of Lisbon said, adding it was a tremendous honor to be in the company of such people.
Madison comes from a family of military men, with brother Terry Glenn on active duty with the U.S. Navy, but home on leave. Their father, Terry L., served in the U.S. Army and their late grandfather, Glenn, served in the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy.
The elder Terry said it "makes you feel proud, that patriotism is an ongoing thing."
The younger Terry said he loves going to events like the one at Robert Bycroft School which go beyond just seeing a uniform. He said people tend to forget sometimes and events like this can open people's eyes. It's also a chance to meet fellow soldiers and a chance for others to see and understand why they do what they do. Both he and his brother have served in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.
Besides the Madisons, other veterans present included: Paul Bryan of Lisbon, U.S. Army; Walter Watson of Hanoverton, U.S. Army; Clifford McKarns of Salineville, U.S. Army Air Force; Dan Sanor of East Rochester, U.S. Navy; and Tammy Jackson of Lisbon, U.S. Navy Reserves.
"It's because of these people that we're able to do this," Robert Bycroft School Director of Education Cindy Stoughton said during the assembly.
Students and staff members submitted names to be placed on the Wall of Honor, with more than 125 veterans both living and deceased remembered with their name on a star.
EDI Central, one of the workshop facilities operated by the Columbiana County Board of Developmental Disabilities, also plans to honor veterans by collecting items to send to troops overseas. Areas will be set up to collect the items, which will be delivered at the end of November.
Donations can be dropped off at any of the CCBDD facilities. EDI Central is located at the corner of state Route 172 and County Home Road outside Lisbon.
The list of items needed includes the following: AT&T international phone cards, pre-sweetened powdered drink mixes, such as gatorade, kool aid or crystal light, coffee (ground, vaccuum packed or small cans), beef jerky, foot powder, eye drops, lip balm, deodorant, hand sanitizer, any canned meat, candy bars, canned chili, ravioli or spaghettiOs, canned fruit, canned salsa or dip, canned tuna, chicken or turkey, individually packed condiments, gum, crackers, nuts, peanut butter in plastic containers, pop tarts, power bars, energy bars, rice crispy bars, ready-to-eat soup or other non-perishable items.
Mary Ann Greier can be reached at mgreier@salemnews.net
