Colors of Honor of Medina County aims to recognize veterans and first responders through three-day event

BRUNSWICK — More than 100 flags will be placed around Cuyahoga Community College's Brunswick campus as part of a three-day event this Friday through Sunday to honor veterans and first responders. Medina County Veterans Service Office Director Ed Zackery said the idea for Colors of Honor of Medina County came from the board of the Medina County Veterans Memorial Fund. "We wanted to do something to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War," he said. "There's some groups out there that you can pay to come set the flags up. The Kiwanis here in Medina have a bunch of flags that they use for different events, and we thought we would do it ourselves." There will be 100 American flags on the site, Zackery said. Military flags will be in front of the American flags, first responder flags will be to the left, and a POW/MIA flag will be to the right. "The American flags are the people of the country," he said. "The military flags are in front and are defending them. The first responder flags off to the left are defending and helping throughout the community, and the POW flag are those that sacrificed and never came home." Flags are still available for sponsorships until this weekend, Zackery said. For more information, visit shorturl.at/AKMfz. "You can walk amongst the flags and reflect about freedom and what this country means to you," he said. The schedule for the event is: Opening ceremony from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Friday. Men of Independence Chorus and candlelight vigil from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Participants are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs and snacks. Prayer breakfast from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday. All veterans with an ID card and first responders in uniform will receive free breakfast. Meet the police and fire department, face painting and a balloon toss from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Johnny Rock Dog concert and ice cream social from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday. Participants are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs and snacks. Tribute to Vietnam veterans from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday. Closing ceremony from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Taps will sound every night at approximately 10 p.m. The Medina County Vietnam Historical Project will also be on display all-day Sunday, Zackery said. It is a series of 33 panels, and each panel is dedicated to one of the 33 men who died in Vietnam from Medina County. The project also displays the headlines from the United States and Medina County on that day. "The goal of the history project was to get somebody to relate to what was happening on that day here in Medina County and here in the United States while that man gave his life in Vietnam for our freedom," he said. Funds raised from the event will go to the Medina County Veterans Memorial Fund, Zackery said. The fund has given back to veterans in a variety of ways since its inception 10 years ago, like by sponsoring meals and assisting with service dog training for veterans. "The impact since the fund's existence has been over $300,000 that we've given back to the community," he said. "Last year alone was $45,807." Contact reporter Madisyn Woodring at (330) 721-4049 or mwoodring@medina-gazette.com.