Community, school salutes service

MILAN TWP. — On Friday, Sept. 11, Edison High School hosted the Salute to Service night, which occurred before and throughout the Chargers football game. It was sponsored by the Corpsman Maxton W. Soviak Foundation, which provides veterans and their families with adventures, experiences and resources "to live life to the Max," as its mission statement indicates. The event aimed to: • Honor veterans and service members • Support organizations that serve veterans and their families • Help memorialize and remember the events of Sept. 11, 2001 During this special evening, school officials invited veterans to sit outside on the football field's Bickley Outdoor Balcony. Attached to the school's fieldhouse, veterans could take in an overhead view of the game while enjoying refreshments. In the past, the Humane Society of Erie County provided dogs to the foundation, which were trained and became service dogs for veterans in need. As a "thank you," foundation representatives and Edison High School helped organize a fundraiser for the humane society. Community members brought in many items — like absorbent pads, food, cleaning wipes, bleach and more — which went to the society, a nonprofit caring for animals. Randi Ketchum, a kindergarten teacher at Edison Elementary School and veteran liaison of the Corpsman W. Maxton Soviak Foundation, oversaw the entire event. "We´re just hoping, really, to help the humane society in any way possible because they have such a great need," Ketchum said. Ketchum also spoke about the impact of service dogs and the significance of supporting them. "It´s important to have a companion that, in those times of crisis, you can look to that animal to give you comfort when you have a specific need or for going out in public if you´ve had an experience that has given you that trauma," Ketchum said. Members of Edison High School's Teen Leadership Corps assisted with the donation collection before the game. The class empowers teenagers to achieve their leadership potential through a character- and service-based curriculum. "Helping out with the humane society donations was a small way, for me, to give back to the community that raised me," said senior Weston Gfell, who helped volunteer on Friday night. Among the people in attendance at the game was Marine veteran Richard Smith, who shared his memory of the events that took place on 9/11. "I remember 9/11, at 9 a.m. when I was working in Norwalk and everything just changed. They called all of the semi trucks in, and I was a semi truck driver. We thought it was war here, and I remember it very well. I couldn´t take my ear off the radio, and it was very devastating." Want to help? People can make donations, learn about affiliated events or inquire about the Corpsman Maxton W. Soviak Memorial Foundation by visiting maxtonsoviak.org. People can also donate to the Humane Society of Erie County by visiting humanesocietyoferiecounty.org.