Great to see veterans get helping hand

BOUQUETs >> To the members of the Disabled American Veterans’ Louis Paul Proy Chapter 20 who gave turkeys Nov. 20 to Lorain area veterans and their families for Thanksgiving.

Ray Kershaw, adjutant of Louis Paul Proy Chapter 20, 1319 W. Erie Ave. in Lorain, said, “There are a lot of veterans and families of veterans who are in need. We always try to help out with things like this, especially during the holidays so these veterans can enjoy the holiday.”

Kershaw and the Disabled American Veterans held a similar event recently at Golden Corral in Elyria to raise money for veterans.

The members raised a good amount of money, but Kershaw said the best part was the owner doubled what they made and added it to the fund.

Kershaw said, “We want veterans to know they’re appreciated and supported. Giving away turkeys for Thanksgiving is just a small sample of what these veterans deserve and what we can provide for them.”

Bob Thomas, a veteran who helps with Louis Paul Proy Chapter 20, said he volunteers because the organization provides real support for veterans.

Thomas said after he retired, he looked around for organizations he could join that help veterans. He found it with Louis Paul Proy Chapter 20.

These men and their organization don’t want veterans forgotten, and they shouldn’t be.

BOUQUETS » To the members of the Lorain High School marching band who will participate for the first time in America’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in Detroit.

The annual parade will begin at 8:50 a.m., Nov. 23.

Tim Sivik, director of bands and orchestra at Lorain High, said, “We have the marching band, flag corps and dancers representing our school in the parade. It’s something that everyone is looking forward to.”

Although the Lorain High band has participated in parades in the past, including in Chicago and New York, marching on Thanksgiving is a new experience for the members.

To participate in the Thanksgiving Day parade, Sivik filled out an application which included what the band has done in other parades. He also had to include a video of the band performing.

We’re encouraging residents to watch the parade on WEWS-TV 5. Lorain High will appear near the front of the parade. Go, Marching Titans.

BRICKBATS » To Benjamin Davis, the 32-year-old Lorain man who is serving 40 years to life in prison for the 2014 murder of 26-year-old Robert Caudill.

Davis pleaded guilty Nov. 15 to two counts of aggravated murder, two counts of murder, two counts of felonious assault, two counts of aggravated robbery, two counts of robbery, two counts of theft, two counts of having weapons under disability and a single count of tampering with evidence.

Davis reached an agreement with prosecutors to avoid the death penalty.

Caudill, a father of two young boys, was robbed and killed by Davis on Dec. 1, 2014. Caudill was delivering a pizza for Happy’s Pizza to the Lake Motel in Lorain.

Davis called police after the crimes and gave a false statement about a robbery at the motel.

A short time later, police arrested Davis while he was driving Caudill’s car near the border of Lorain and Amherst.

According to the transcript of the Nov. 15 hearing for Davis, Mary C. Caudill, the victim’s mother, told Lorain County Common Pleas Judge Mark A. Betleski that Davis took her life the day he killed her son.

Mary Caudill said she taught her children to work for what they want and to respect those who work for a living.

Davis caused a lot of grief and hurt for the Caudill family.

Because of his heinous crimes, two little boys will never see their father again.

Davis’ greed and disregard for human life landed him behind bars for four long decades. And this is where people like him belong.

BRICKBATS » To Howard E. Lawrence, the 41-year-old Elyria man who was sentenced Nov. 21 to a mandatory four years in prison for drug trafficking.

Lawrence, 41, pleaded guilty Oct. 26 to an amended indictment of trafficking in drugs, two counts of possession of drugs, and single counts of possessing criminal tools and drug paraphernalia.

Elyria police arrested Lawrence when detectives raided his Gateway Boulevard home Feb. 10.

Upon entering the house, officers located more than 27 grams of crack cocaine, hydrocodine pills, a small amount of marijuana, digital scales and bags commonly used to package and sell cocaine.

Lawrence had an impressive amount of drugs inside his dwelling.

But, now he’s off the streets for four years, and that’s good for the neighborhood he formally resided. He now resides in the penal system.