Homemade banner provides warm greetings

Sign used to welcome home service men, women

By NORRIS LEDYARD

Expositor Staff Writer

When the occasion calls for a warm welcome, it can take different forms, from a grand gesture to something simple and heartfelt. As service people return from a tour of duty, folks from Fulton County banded together to present a simple, yet warm method to welcome home our troops.

Sherryann Franks of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit # 265 Chairman for Americanism started the ball rolling a month ago. Through the Legion and her association with the VFW Auxiliary Unit #7424, Nancy Vela and the Fulton County Chapter of the American Red Cross began brainstorming a proper way their organizations could provide the proper welcome.

"How can we do something special for homecoming?" said Franks. "We decided that a banner could be transported to the airport and could be displayed for the public to see and share."

"In my youth, I had a really good history teacher who inspired a sense of patriotism in me which still burns within me. In my growing days, I watched the Vietnam War on television almost daily and witnessed how the American public viewed the returning service personnel. I knew we could do better."

Through the Blue Star / Gold Star ceremonies hosted at the Legion post #265, Franks was humbled by the parents and relatives who expressed their heartfelt thanks for the efforts made by the posts and the Patriot Riders. Through the donations from the Red Cross and such relatives, they were able to finance the materials and the printing by Tomahawk Printing to construct a welcome home banner.

It is on display near the corner of E. Elm St. and N. Shoop Ave. on the fencing of Elm Street School. When it comes time for a welcome home opportunity, the banner comes down, a name is added to the banner and it's off to the airport.

"These greetings at the airport are hastily scheduled, as travel connections can be disrupted and delayed," said Franks.

The first group welcomed Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Toadvine. His family resides in Delta. His visit will be brief, as he has two weeks to spend here in northwest Ohio before returning to Iraq. His tour there in Iraq should last through late spring of this year.

"While at Toledo Express, another family noticed the banner and greetings for a member of the service," said Franks. "Our group stayed and welcomed their son back to America. Between the banner and the Patriot Guard bearing the colors, it made for a proper greeting and expression of thanks for their service and sacrifices made for our country."

If a resident of Fulton County has a loved one in a branch of the military serving our country and they are due to return, please contact Franks at (419) 335-6394 or the Vela family at (419) 335-0591. They would be pleased and proud to be there when your loved one returns home.