Published: September 02, 2009 03:16 pm         

Our Heroes’ Tree honors service members

Rockville — The Military Family Research Institute at Purdue University is partnering with Parke County Extension Homemaker clubs and Rockville Public Library to present the Our Heroes’ Tree initiative. This is the second year to have a Parke County partner.

Through this program, organizations are working to honor past and present service members and create an awareness of military families currently affected by deployment.

“For Indiana citizens, the public library is a community gathering place where information is found and shared. It is a place where new information and ideas increase the knowledge and awareness of community members. Partnering with libraries for Our Heroes’ Tree creates an opportunity for libraries to increase awareness within their own communities about the service and sacrifice fellow citizens have made in defense of their state and country,” said Kathy Broniarczyk, director of outreach for MFRI. “By increasing community awareness about the uniqueness of military life and service, libraries show their support and understanding of this special population.”

Our Heroes’ Tree is a national program founded to recognize and honor the sacrifices of current service members, veterans, and deceased service members. MFRI is proud to launch the initiative in libraries statewide. Participating libraries will display a tree featuring handmade ornaments created by community members to honor a service member.

Libraries will also provide resources to help these communities provide support and generate a greater understanding of the experiences of servicemen and women and their families.

To participate in the Our Heroes’ Tree initiative, simply bring a photo or name of the service member in your family or community from past and present wars, conflicts or peacetime operations to Rockville Public Library during September and October. The library will make a copy of the picture, if needed, and make an ornament for the person.

The ornament will be placed on Our Heroes’ Tree. Stories about individual service members can also be submitted and displayed in a binder near the tree.

In November, two of the ornaments from each library will be a part of the Indiana State Heroes’ Tree that will be unveiled at the Indiana State Library and the Indiana State Virtual Heroes’ Tree at www.cfs.purdue.edu/mfri/oht.

Purdue University and libraries statewide are excited to continue this initiative in an effort to promote patriotism throughout Indiana communities. To learn more, contact Dorothy Wolverton at (765) 569-6499 or Samantha Lucy, director of communications for MFRI, at (765) 496-6027 or slucy@purdue.edu.