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Alacriant Employees Participate in “Wreaths for Western Reserve”

On Saturday, December 13, volunteers and family members of Alacriant Inc. placed wreaths at 5,300 graves at the cemetery as part of the annual Wreaths Across America event.  Worldwide, 700,000 wreaths were placed at veterans’ graves.

Wreaths For Western Reserve solicits donations from veterans groups and other organizations to pay for the wreaths. Also, family and friends of veterans buried at the cemetery buy wreaths through the group.

The volunteer effort for the local event, Wreaths For Western Reserve, began at 10:30 a.m. Dec. 13, and was followed by a ceremony at noon. The keynote speaker was Jason Kaufmann of the Ohio Civil Air Patrol.

Representing Alacriant at the ceremony were: Michael Taylor, Rick Scheel, Bob Klusty, Zech Paul, Derek Lohr, Toni Williams, and Susan Lass. When the group arrived at the Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery at about 10:15am that Saturday, it was very cold and slightly snowy, but the weather did not stop the hundreds of people who came out to show their respect. Rick Scheel’s father, a four-year veteran of the Air Force, is buried in the cemetery were the wreaths were laid.

Toni Williams said, “Seeing all of the volunteers and the amount of wreaths placed was a very heartwarming experience. It was an honor to be able to give back just a little bit for those who have served and for the families that have endured.“

At the end of the two hour event, the representatives of NEOPAT and Alacriant laid more than 200 wreaths. Other volunteers on behalf of Alacriant were: Elise Taylor, Cheryl Paul, Terry Cooper.

Alacriant Employees Brighten Holidays for Local Military Families

The business of the holiday season did not stop employees of Alacriant, Inc. from taking time for some extra shopping and gift-giving. Alacriant partnered with NEOPAT (Northeast Ohio Foundation for Patriotism) to adopt two military families for the holidays.

Last year, NEOPAT and its 36 sponsors helped 44 families. This year that increased to 68 families with the help of 54 sponsors, including Alacriant.

“This is a huge improvement, and we are so grateful for all our sponsors this year,” said Doug and Eneida Dentler, co-chairs of the campaign.

“Adopting” a family included shopping for Christmas presents and delivering them in person. On Dec. 15, when Jeff Berkes, Tina Vanscoy, Susan Lass and Michael Taylor went to the home of five-year Marine Corps veteran, the whole family met them at the door! The first presents the kids opened were new bicycle helmets. After opening them and trying them on, they rushed outside to see their new bikes. The gifts also included clothes, shoes and new bedding.

The father said during the five years of duty, he only saw his family for a total of eight months. “That was the hardest part; I needed to see my girls,” he said.

On Dec. 19, Jeff Berkes, Tina Vanscoy, Phil White and Michael Taylor took gifts to the family of a 15-year veteran of the National Guard, who is a chinook helicopter mechanic. He and his wife, a special needs teacher working on her master’s degree, have three children, all age 3.  The gifts for this deserving family included gift cards for gas and groceries, shoes and, of course, diapers.