Honoring the fallen

While most people think of Memorial Day weekend as the kickoff to summer, to me and my family, it’s much more meaningful and personal.

For the past 50 years, it’s been a family tradition to give back and honor fallen veterans. We have always believed in “doing” as much as “giving.” Rather than just writing a check, we show up. 

In the second week of May, I spend two full days traveling across Northeast Ohio visiting cemeteries and placing American flags at the graves of fallen Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) service members. They are brothers in arms who I make sure will not be forgotten.

As a former U.S. Army EOD specialist who served eight years, I know firsthand the weight of sacrifice. Tasked with disarming deadly threats like IEDs and unexploded ordnance, these technicians face extraordinary danger. For many, the cost of service extends far beyond the battlefield.

I’ve lost friends in the line of duty and know others who came home and struggled in silence. 

This year marks the fourth annual flag placement effort, which spans 30 cemeteries from Chardon to Youngstown to Lorain. Each year the number of graves I visit grows, and I’ll be going to Massillon for the first time. Some graves are very familiar to me now, etched in memory. Others require searching, even clearing away grass and dirt to uncover a name before it can be honored. And others still have the flags planted by the grave that I placed the previous year, which is pretty cool.

My mission coincides with the national EOD Memorial Ceremony, which is held each May at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, where service members from all over the country honor the fallen. In addition to the flags I place in Northeast Ohio, Streb Electric sponsors flags to be placed at these graves across Ohio.

Streb Electric is headquartered in Willoughby and serves homes and businesses throughout Lake, Geauga and Cuyahoga counties. Call 440-953-5819 or visit StrebElectric.com for more information.