Volunteering in Honor of and Service to Our Veterans

Like many people, I spent the better part of my life in the workforce.  Long commutes, long hours, and family responsibilities did not leave much time for volunteering, but finding a way to honor and support veterans was always a desire, due mainly to the veterans in my family and those that I have had the pleasure of working with.  With limited free time, I just couldn’t find a way to locate the right volunteer opportunities, and I also had concerns about the time I could devote. 

After retiring in early 2025, I decided to attend the pre-Memorial Day flag placement event at Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery, and met three members of the Ohio Western Reserve Ladies.  Soon after that inspirational meeting, my journey to honor and support our veterans began with the many volunteer opportunities that are available within the organization. 

My first volunteering endeavor with Ohio Western Reserve Ladies was joining and participating in the Salute Team.  This group of volunteers attends individual Honors services at the cemetery to honor the veterans and support their families.  To be honest, I wasn’t sure that I could regularly attend services and maintain some composure, but I felt the need to try, and after months of services, I can honestly say that it has been challenging, but also extremely rewarding.  To stand in honor and respect of each veteran and to provide support to their families means more than words can express.

My second volunteer endeavor was participating in a number of veterans support and Stand Down events in Medina, Summit, Stark and Wayne counties.  These events have truly been inspiring!  The organizers reach out to veteran support groups from the area, and the turnout is amazing.  The camaraderie between the support organizations and their obvious dedication to the veterans has been wonderful to experience. I have met so many wonderful organizers, organizations, and volunteers that passionately support our veterans, and I am now eager to follow and support them in any future events.  Of course, I can’t forget the veterans who attend these events; it has truly been my pleasure meeting them, supporting them in any way that I can, and to see their sincere appreciation warms my heart and inspires me to continue this journey.

Along with many of our members, I have also had the privilege of performing other volunteer opportunities at Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery.  From setting and pulling flags and wreaths, to cleaning headstones, there are many seasonal events to participate in.  If you have not had the opportunity to visit, please plan a trip (or join us for an event); the grounds are beautiful and reverent, and the staff is truly dedicated and respectful.

In 2026, my goal is to participate in some of our other volunteer events; partnering with Ohio Rolling Thunder chapters at the Piston Power Show, REV22 races and events in many of our northern Ohio counties, and supporting some of our many resource partners such as NEOPAT, Dillon’s Place, and Fisher House. 

If you have a desire to support veterans and have any amount of time to give (any amount of time will be helpful and appreciated!), then please reach out to us, become a member, or become an active member in 2026; we have plenty of volunteer opportunities near you, and I promise you, the experiences will be rewarding beyond words.

Barb Basler is the Volunteer Coordinator for Ohio Western Reserve Ladies, a Salute Team Member, and an Administration Building Volunteer. She can be found most days helping OWRL stay organized and helping veterans. We are forever grateful for her time and dedication to OWRL.