Roots for Boots partnered with Guthrie Memorial Library in Hanover, PA on Saturday, October 21st to jumpstart Veterans Day a little early! Veterans were invited to showcase their artifacts and interact with the community. The event included an Opening Ceremony with remarks from guest speakers, Representative Kate Klunk, and local community member, Moon Kuhn, who shared her story of how U.S. servicemen rescued her and her family when she fled Saigon at the young age of 10 years old. York County Director of Veteran Affairs, Terry Gendron, was honored by Roots for Boots as well for his service relating to assisting his fellow veterans in need. Other local veterans and friends of Roots for Boots were honored with our Challenge Coins. Hanover Area Young Marines posted and retired the Colors for us and local high school student, Katie Hoster, beautifully sang our National Anthem and God Bless America.
Tim Kress of Mess Tent cooked up some amazing “chow” for the crowd from his military kitchen trailer that included Spam sandwiches, hotdogs, hamburgers, pork sandwiches, beans and coleslaw. His buddy, Barry, was responsible for all of the beautiful displays of vintage uniforms that lined the hallways to the conference room. Tim Wright rolled in with the PA Traveling Wall and gave an emotional ceremony including TAPS and a special song composed just for his cause. Jimmy Weinreich pulled in with with his 1944 Jeep Willy and it was all fun and games as CEO, Christy Lucas – dressed as a Donut Dollie- couldn’t get enough of his amazing artifacts, jam-packed in the back of the vehicle! Our Local Hanover Apple dealer even provided a current Jeep Willy for visitors to view.
The focus of the day was our veterans and their amazing stories! Visitors had opportunities to donate to Operation TET Vet Recreation for Vietnam veteran, Sgt. Lewis Douglas. Roots for Boots will be providing Sgt Douglas with an all terrain action track chair on November 12th. Visitors could view the actual chair that will be delivered to Sgt Douglas and another track chair was available for test drives! Special thank you to Jimmy Ditzler for bringing these chairs to the event and to Ed Fisher from Leek Hunting and Mountain Preserve (www.leekpreserve.org) for assisting us with securing the track chair for Sgt Douglas. A large banner was on site for guests to write special messages to Sgt Douglas that will make its way to him on delivery day. The community is invited to join us on the 12th of November at Church of the Deliverance, 199 Bradford Avenue in Downington, PA. The presentation of the chair to Sgt Douglas will take place at about 11:30 a.m. Let us know you are coming!
Military Moments was an amazing event that included many blessings throughout the day! Thank you to Guthrie Memorial for partnering with us. It brought Roots for Boots within $3,000 to our $13,500 goal for the track chair. Our local community really turned out to support our veterans … way to serve your country Hanover community!
