2A Thursday, October 21, 2010
COMMENTARY n RECORDS
The Beacon
Sound Off Habitat thank you
Habitat for Humanity of Ottawa County would like to thank everyone who stopped by the booth at the Oak Harbor Festival. I would like to extend a special thank you to the following for their continued support to Habitat for Humanity of Ottawa County: Oak Harbor–Penta FFA class for designing and constructing the play barn which was won by Sara Shanteau, of Oak Harbor; Dale Wendt, of Oak Harbor, for building and donating the bench, won by Melanie Pert, of Fremont; and to all the volunteers who helped work at the Habitat booth this year. Shelley A. Asmus, executive director Habitat for Humanity of Ottawa County
Honor Flight
In March of 2009, a group of veterans met at the Riverview complex in Ottawa County with a delegation from Honor Flight. The reps told us of an opportunity to fly to Washington sometime in the future. On Sept. 4, I received a call about the flight. My number came up and the trip was set for Oct. 6, a Wednesday. We were instructed to be at the Toledo Express Airport at 6 a.m. for an early breakfast before boarding. John Mizla, a Navy WWII, veteran also from Danbury Township, and me arrived early, both being on the same Honor Flight. After 49 veterans were registered and assigned a guardian, we were asked if we would need any assistance. Well, I’ve walked with a cane for the last five years and I occasionally misplace it from time to time. So the only assistance I could think of was for some one to help me find where
I would have misplaced it. Our guardians saw it differently. To them, we were a group whose average age was coming up on 90 and they assigned us to wheel chairs with a guardian for each one of us. This trip is such an honor for us as most of us never expected to see the memorial in our lifetime. So after finishing our rolls and coffee, we boarded between two rows of cheering friends and family holding flags and thanking us for our dedication and service. As our planes taxied into position, we passed under an arch of water created by a pair of fire trucks. This was our final salute of honor as we left Toledo for the nation’s capital. At 10 a.m. we arrived in Dulles to another cheering reception and wheelchairs for all. Our chairs were then loaded into buses and were with us throughout the trip. Our first stop was the WWII memorial. We spent about an hour and a half there, reflecting, thinking and taking it all in. Standing in front of Freedom Wall with its 4,000 gold stars (each star representing 100 American lives lost), some veterans were moved to tears, grateful that they we able to have the chance to be at their memorial. Of course there were many pictures taken. We were each given a camera by the Honor Flight organization, and there were also group photos taken as well. We then boarded buses for Haines Point Park. Weather was just right for a box lunch picnic under the trees of the park. We toured the Korean Memorial, the Viet Nam Wall and the memorial honoring the Nurse Corps. We stopped at Arlington and watched the solemn changing of the guard ceremony. The guard only changes on the
hour so we had to wait a little there. Loading up again we drove by the Iwo Jima Memorial and the Air Force Memorial before arriving back at Dulles Airport with more flags and cheers. It’s now about 9:15 p.m. and we are just touching down in Toledo. It’s been a very long day, but we didn’t expect to see the 300 to 400 people welcoming us back home. There were two rows of full-sized American Flags, about 40 in all, that formed a corridor for us as we disembarked. The Genoa Community Band, with its 40 or so musicians, was playing. There were grade school kids singing, a women’s dance troupe and flags and family and friends and people everywhere expressing their gratitude and thanking us. This was a real reception! I cannot thank enough the Honor Flight organization, the donors and volunteers who made it possible and especially our guardians who tirelessly watched over our every step. For them, the flight was not free as it cost them $400 each for the privilege of being a guardian. Thank you again for a most memorable and very long day. Bill Hirt
Pet rescues
As many people may already know, the Humane Society of Ottawa County is in the middle of another full-scale rescue operation: this one on the beach behind Port Clinton Burger King. This has long been a favorite place for irresponsible owners to “dump” their pets, rather than making the commitment to care for them or find homes for unwanted litters. “Dumping” or abandoning animal is illegal in Ohio. It is also inhumane. With winter quickly
approaching, abandoning animals pretty much means a death sentence for them. Local authorities have been informed of our efforts and we will all be concentrating on stopping these inexcusable acts. Anyone found to be “dumping” their cats, will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. You have a terrific asset just minutes away — a local, no-kill animal shelter, the Humane Society of Ottawa County. They offer a variety of low-cost spay and neuter programs and are willing to assist those who need help in finding their pets homes. We do want to thank all the people who have been involved and are still helping in the trapping, rescuing and transporting of the cats to our shelter. We appreciate the people calling when they’ve seen a cat in one of the cages; our transporters; Dr. Stone, who has made sure the necessary medications and vaccines have been available to us; to all those scrubbing floors, cleaning the cages and socializing with them; the entire staff and volunteers of the HSOC; Barb, who knows each and every cat and kitten and who has unselfishly been watching over them daily; right down to the “little lady” who crawled into a drainage pipe to pull out kittens. As a matter of fact, we think she may still be in there. We could not be accomplishing this without the help of all of you. If you want to help by donating desperately needed wet and dry kitten food, or monetarily for medical and housing costs, stop by the shelter at 2424 Sand Road, Port Clinton, or call 419-734-4191. Remember — do not dump these animals. They deserve better. Lisa Ramirez, President Humane Society of Ottawa County
Obituaries Maureen Campbell Aug. 24 — Oct. 13, 2010 Maureen “Mimi” Campbell died October 13, 2010 in her home after an extended illness. Mimi was born on August 24, 1932 in Grove City, PA, the daughter of John and Elizabeth (Kreitner) Mullen. On August 10, 1957 in Grove City, PA, she married B. Jerry Campbell and he preceded her in death on January 31, 1983. She is survived by her six children, Roberta “Bobbi” (Todd) Bickley, Eileen (Struan Robertson) Campbell, Mary Heschel , Amy (Gary) Howerth, Lisa (Richard) Chura and Malcolm “Scott” (Christina) Campbell. Mimi was preceded in death by her parents, husband, brother: John Mullen and son-in-law: Jerry Heschel. She was the proud and loving grandmother of 11 grandchildren, Elizabeth and Maureen Bickley, Madeline Robertson, Erin, Daniel (Susan) and Tricia Heschel, Sean Campbell, Jennifer and Sara Chura and Matthew and Michael Campbell. She is also survived by her beloved
The Beacon
nephew, John D. “Dave” (JoAnne) Mullen of Warminster, PA. She was a graduate of Grove City High School and the Hamot Hospital School of Nursing in Erie, PA. Mimi always knew she wanted to be a nurse and she managed an impressive full-time career, even while raising her six children. She was a long-time employee of H.B. Magruder Hospital where she served as the Director of Nursing before retiring in 1994. She was a lifelong fan of Notre Dame football, a member of the Port Clinton Yacht Club and a parishioner at Immaculate Conception Church. Her family wishes to extend a special thank you to her physicians, Dr. Leonardo Que and Dr. Panju Prithviraj and to her “extended family” at Coffee Express, particularly Tina, Rebecca and Curtis. Visitation will be held from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8PM, Sunday, October 17, 2010 in the Gerner-Wolf-Walker Funeral Home and Crematory, 216 Washington Street, Port Clinton, OH. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Father John Missler
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at 10:00AM, Monday, October 18, 2010 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. Burial will follow in Riverview Cemetery, Port Clinton, OH. Memorial contributions may be made to Immaculate Conception School. Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.walkerfuneralhomes.com
Joseph Passabet Jr. Nov. 5, 1919 — Oct. 17, 2010 Joseph Vincent Passabet Jr., 90, of Port Clinton, died on Sunday, Oct. 17, at Magruder Hospital in Port Clinton. Visitation will be 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 20, at the Neidecker, LeVeck & Crosser Funeral Home, 1124 Fulton St., Port Clinton. On Thursday, Oct. 21, prayers will begin at 9:30 a.m. at the funeral home, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 414 Madison St., Port Clinton, with Rev. John C. Missler, officiating. Burial will follow in Catawba Island Cemetery.
Lola Cappelletty-Urban Feb. 17, 1937 — Oct. 18, 2010 Lola M. Cappelletty-Urban, 73, of Marblehead died Monday, Oct. 18, at Magruder Hospital, Port Clinton. Funeral services will be conducted 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 21, at Neidecker, LeVeck & Crosser Funeral Home, Peninsula Chapel, Lakeside-Marblehead.
Marguerite Dohy Feb. 12, 1924 — Oct. 16, 2010 Marguerite L. Dohy, 86, of Oak Harbor, died Saturday, Oct. 16, at Magurder Hospital, Port Clinton. Visitation will be held from 11 to 1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 21, at the Robinson-Walker Funeral Home and Crematory in Oak Harbor, where funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. in the funeral home. Interment will be in Union Cemetery, Oak Harbor.
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