OLCA winterizes veteran cemeteries during Grateful Embrace event

WORTHINGTON, Ohio – The Ohio Lawn Care Association, along with the Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association and the Ohio Turfgrass Foundation, held its 25^th annual Grateful Embrace event last weekend.

The event is a community-service program to winterize the grounds of the Dayton National Cemetery, one of Ohio’s veterans' cemeteries. This year, it was held on Nov. 10 and would've also featured service at the Ohio Western Reserve Cemetery in Rittman. Due to bad weather conditions, volunteers will work on those grounds Saturday. 

In 1994, OLCA began the project to beautify the memorial grounds at Dayton National Cemetery and then expanded the project to include the Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery in 2010. OLCA members annually contribute fertilizer, tools, resources and time to gift the cemetery and honor the veterans who rest there. 

The evnet in Dayton began with a welcome from the director of the Dayton National Cemetery, Posting of Colors by the Dayton National Cemetery Honor Guard and opening remarks by the Ohio Lawn Care Association’s Executive Director. Speakers included Mark Kucharski, the president of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Park, and Vietnam veteran and distinguished cross recipient Mick Dehart. Rep. Rick Perales attended the event, which concluded with a rifle salute, playing of Taps and the Retirement of Colors. Over 30 volunteers fertilized and laid mulch on the grounds.

For more information on how to help this Saturday, contact OLCA Executive Director Mark Bennett.