First responders to be honored

Willoughby Hills Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4358 and the city’s Recreation Department are teaming up again to honor the area’s first responders during the second annual Unity Day planned for Sept. 9.

The event debuted last year on Sept. 11, after city officials began looking for an event to replace its traditional Corn Fest, which took a hiatus in 2016.

The day is slated to open with a welcome ceremony, emceed by former Lake Count y Commissioner Kevin Malecek, who calls Willoughby Hills home.

At last year’s event, Malecek talked about watching the events of Sept. 11, 2001 unfold right before his eyes while in graduate school at American University in Washington, D.C.

“In the window of my apartment overlooking the Pentagon, I saw this tremendous tragedy unfold,” Malecek said during his address last year, adding that he saw something else other than tragedy on Sept. 11, 2001.

“The first responders’ actions were awe-inspiring.”

Lynn Hallum, who chairs the Willoughby Hills Recreation Committee, said in a Sept. 1 telephone interview that the city partnered this year with the VFW post and will hold the event there: 29412 White Road, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 9. She said although the event’s timing and overall theme call to mind the events of Sept. 11, 2001, that’s not all this party is about.

“Although we will mention (9/11), don’t want to dwell on that,” she said. “We’re focusing on honoring our first responders and also making it a community event to bring families out together, to get into a community spirit.”

She said that, immediately following Sept. 11, 2001, there seemed to be more of a community feeling throughout neighborhoods around the country. But 16 years later, that feeling seems to have diminished.

“So we’re just trying to grow the community and kind of revive that feeling between neighbors and families,” she said. “People are just so busy nowadays, I guess, so they often just don’t have the time to get together like this and spend time enjoying each other’s company and strengthening the community. So it’s really about the spirit of getting people out there.”

Steve Tretinik, a trustee at VFW Post 4358, wrote in an Aug. 30 e-mail exchange that recognizing the area’s first responders is also an important component of the event that ex- tends to those who serve in neighboring communities, as well.

“We started this l ast year to celebrate the first responders of our community in tribute to their service and sacrifice,” he writes. “This year, we are trying to expand this tribute to local first responders that share a mutual compact with our city.”

All first responders will be treated to a free lunch, both Hallum and Tretinik confirmed. Their families and other attendees will be able to purchase meals “at a minimal cost,” Hallum said.

Along with Malecek, Willoughby Hills Mayor Bob Weger plans to be in attendance and present a com- memorative coin to each of the city’s first responders there, Hallum said.

Admission is free for all and some attractions planned include inf latables for the kids, adult games like bocce and cornhole, face painting, a balloon clown and a nine-hole miniature golf setup, Hallum confirmed.

Other attractions and entertainment on tap for the day include live music from 1 to 3 p.m. by Eddie and the Edsels, DJ music from 3 to 6 p.m., and an ice cream truck.

For more information, visit the Willoughby Hills website, where an event flier is posted.