'Hero Tree' creation, ornament-making sessions at PCPL to recognize veterans

Friday, November 22, 2013
Some of the first ornaments hung on the inaugural Our Heroes' Tree in 2005, shimmer in the light. The ornaments honor deployed servicemembers.

The Putnam County Public Library (PCPL) is collaborating with the Indiana State Library, the Military Family Research Institute (MFRI) at Purdue University and public libraries across the state to honor military members, veterans and their families by participating in the annual Our Heroes Tree program.

The "Our Heroes Tree" project recognizes current and past service members as well as their families.

To participate in Our Heroes Tree, the Putnam County Public Library is holding two ornament-making sessions on Thursday, Dec. 5 between noon and 2 p.m. and again between 6-8 p.m.

Supplies, food and drinks will be provided. The group will create handmade ornaments honoring service members from past and present wars, conflicts or peacetime operations. Participants will be encouraged to personalize their ornaments and bring photographs of past or present service members or letters and other memorabilia that can be crafted into an ornament.

Persons may also bring a veteran's ornament made at home to the library between Dec. 2 and 7 to be placed on the tree with other commemorative ornaments.

Stories about individual service members, articles, poems and more can also be submitted and displayed in a binder near the tree.

Through this program, the library is working to honor past and present service members and create an awareness of military families currently affected by deployment.

"For our citizens, the library is a community gathering place where information is found and shared. It is the heart of some communities where people, young or old, highly educated or just learning, meet to gain new ideas or share in memories of the past," Kathy Broniarczyk, director of outreach for MFRI, said.

"Partnering with the Indiana libraries for Our Heroes Tree creates an opportunity to increase awareness within local communities about the service and sacrifice fellow citizens have made in defense of their state and country."

Our Heroes Tree is a national program founded to recognize and honor the sacrifices of current service members, veterans, and deceased service members.

"This is a remarkable initiative that promotes patriotism throughout Indiana communities via their local public library," said Roberta L. Brooker, Indiana's state librarian. "We look forward to discovering all of the wonderful things Indiana communities have done to recognize our state's military members and their families."

To learn more, persons may contact the Putnam County Public Library at 653-2755, Ext. 113 or 115.

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