To honor those who served: Giving Back to Veterans Day is Thursday

Sep. 25--The Giving Back to Veterans Day event will start at 9 a.m. and run until 2 p.m. Thursday at Farmers Market Square in downtown Ironton.

The goal is for local veterans to be honored for their service and for them to find out what type of services are available to them.

The free event is organized by Kim Maynard, RN. She has been a home health nurse for years and has had many veterans as clients. She enjoyed their stories and wanted to do something for them. So, three years ago she organized the first event even although she had never done anything similar.

"It just kind of came together and it kept getting bigger and bigger," she said, adding that she appreciates the support of the veteran community. "It has been very substantial. With Ironton being the home of the annual Memorial Day parade, I couldn't ask for a better place for this."

At 10:30 p.m. on Thursday, Ironton VFW Post 8850 will honor fallen veterans with the traditional 21-gun salute and the playing of Taps. And at 11 a.m., Ironton Mayor Katrina Keith will present a proclamation honoring the event.

Several agencies will be on hand to help veterans get access to services including the Huntington Vet Center's mobile vet center, Readjustment Counseling Services, Department of Veterans Services, Ohio Means Jobs, Veterans for Veterans, the Lawrence County Health Department and the American Red Cross.

Our Lady of Bellefonte, Collins Career Center and the CAO Family Medical Center will be doing wellness checks such as free EKGs, cholesterol, glucose, blood pressure and oxygen saturation checks.

Ohio University Veterans Services will have a booth to tell veterans what higher education opportunities are available.

There will be soup beans and cornbread and drinks available. American Legion Post 433 will provide corn hole boards for entertainment. Students from Collins Career Technical Center will be providing free manicures.

Lawrence County Sheriff's Office will coordinate traffic and have a booth.

The national anthem and prayer will be done by Bob Smith. Maynard heard him stand up and sing at a Marshall University game, so she invited him to the Giving Back to Veterans Day event.

After the ceremonies are over, there will be country music performed by Tri-State resident and Nashville artist James Cazad.

Market Square is located at 220 S. Second St. in Ironton.

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