The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
photos and story contributed by Susan VanArsdale
The Bi-County Youth Coalition spent the morning of November 20th, honoring the veterans of Warren and Henderson County.
They met first at Sweet Briar Corner Market where Eva Galbraith helped them make wreaths. When they finished making the wreaths they all gathered at the Roseville Veterans’ Memorial to place the first wreath.
Mike Rossman and Bob Carlson, two members of the Lawson Babbitt Post, met with them and talked a little about honoring veterans.
Rossman said, “We are very honored that you all took the time to come to Roseville to honor our veterans.”
The wreath making event was the brainstorm of Galbraith and Kelly Dodd last summer. Galbraith is from a military family and believes it is important that kids know how to honor those who have served in the military. Dodd works with kids, and an idea was born.
The students liked the idea and put it into action. When they arrived at Sweet Briar, Galbraith showed the students how to prune the branches and sew the pieces together to make the wreaths. Then they decorated them with ribbons, pine cones and ornaments.
Galbraith told them, “I know several people who have lost loved ones who served their country. Families will see what you have done and that you stopped long enough to say thank you.”
When the wreaths were finished they drove to Roseville to place the first wreath at the memorial.
Rossman told them that the wreath was a symbol of the circle of life and that the evergreen branches were a living memorial of the service and the sacrifice of veterans.
He also explained that the Roseville Post was named in honor of Lawson Babbitt, a gold star veteran of WWI, who was raised in Youngstown in southern Warren County. They placed wreaths in Stronghurst, Alexis, and Monmouth later that day.
The Youth Coalition is a student led organization that consists of 23 students from Monmouth-Roseville, West Central, and United high schools. Kelly Dodd and Jovanie Wallace are the Youth Advisors, who work for Bridgeway as Prevention Specialists.
Dodd said, “We have worked to make the direction of the Youth Coalition more service oriented than it used to be. We want to get the students out into the community.”
The group has made tie blankets for Jamison Center and helped with sorting toys for Christmas. They also have held bake sales to raise funds to provide gloves for children of their communities.
Brody Dodd from MRHS said he enjoys doing leadership projects and being out in the community experiencing new opportunities. He also likes the challenge of accepting other people’s point of view that this group brings to the table.
He said, “The project today was not just about learning a new skill but also giving back to those that have served and their families. The wreath says that they haven’t been forgotten.”
Members of the Coalition:
United: Jack Kane, Samira Bitar, Rachel Purlee, Addison Gillen, Lesley Rodriguez, Delaney Burn, Reese Murray, Nolan Jenks, Jackson Gillen, Kenneth Higbee. Monmouth-Roseville: Brody Dodd, JD Casteel, Noelia Jacobo, Jr. Avendano, Andrea Johnson, Elliott Rodgers, West Central: Addie Seitz, Lauren Winters, Addy Burrell, Drake Vancil, Kaylee Mills, Delaney Engress, Makaylah Swank.
West Central students making a wreath to honor veterans