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‘Home of the Brave’ Was Community’s Way of Saying Thanks

By Chris Freeman

As the successful “Home of the Brave” campaign winds down, we want to reflect on and recognize the community for all of the gratitude they have shown to our front-line heroes.

Having raised over $9,000, most of which were the $10 minimum, this truly shows how broad the support has been. These funds provided more than 1,200 bags of gourmet popcorn, hundreds of subs, Girl Scout cookies, and, most recently, ice cream sundaes for workers at Wheeling Hospital.

Thank you to all the volunteers who delivered these treats. It wasn’t so much the gift, but the thought that was most rewarding to the recipients.

The list of front-line heroes was expansive, and included firefighters, police, hospital workers, state offices, delivery companies, funeral homes, drug stores and physician offices.

This project of gratitude had a physical appearance as well, as over 300 “Home of the Brave” signs were displayed throughout the community to show thanks and appreciation during this very challenging time. While most of us were quarantined during the early part of the pandemic, these front-line workers continued to maintain priority services — and these signs were a testimony to these heroes.

The “Home of the Brave” project has saved its last expression of gratitude for our dedicated health care workers at Wheeling Hospital.

When the pandemic first struck, there was much that was unknown. These health care workers bravely “went into a burning building” in an effort to save lives. A special ice cream sundae appreciation day was been set aside to let them know that what they did mattered, and the community will not soon forget their selfless acts of bravery. We salute you, employees of Wheeling Hospital!

In addition to the many small donations from the community, we are also grateful to the sponsors who helped bring this project to fruition: Kalkreuth Roofing and Sheet Metal, Main Street Bank, Carenbauer Distribution, Raymond James Financial Services Inc. and Taylormade Printing.

Chris Freeman is a certified financial planner with Raymond James Financial Services here in Wheeling and is a lifetime resident of Wheeling. He chaired the local Home of the Brave program.

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