ASHLAND – Ashland’s 11th annual Veterans Appreciation Day Saturday featured Huey helicopter flights, a free lunch and a drone show, among other activities.

The event also featured several family-friendly games, booths and vendors. Organizers previously announced Ashland Spring They hoped to honor not only the sacrifices of the soldiers but also the families of the veterans this year.

However, several organizations that provide services and resources specifically for veterans returned this year.

The event began with comments from Ashland County Sheriff E. Wayne Risner, a poem by local veteran Jack Hadley, and a representative from Attorney General Dave Yost’s office.

Yost participated in the last Veterans Appreciation Day when the Vietnam Memorial Traveling Wall came to Ashland for the 10th anniversary of the event.

State Rep. Melanie Miller also sang the national anthem at the event.

Sandy Burkholder, who led the organization of this year’s event, also read a statement from U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan.

Ashland is in Jordan’s congressional district and the congressman was originally scheduled to attend the event.

Jordan’s statement is a quote from Paul’s letter to the Romans.

“In Paul’s letter to the Romans, we are instructed to give to everyone what we owe them. ‘If tribute, then tribute. If respect, then respect. If honor, then honor,'” Burkholder said, reading Jordan’s statement.

“However, when we pause to acknowledge the sacrifices of our veterans, we know we can never give them the respect and honor they deserve.”

Burkholder, for her part, said Veterans Appreciation Day could not have taken place without a team effort.

“I’m grateful to everyone who served with me to make this possible, and it’s for a great cause,” Burkholder said. “And to you veterans, you mean so much to us.”

Below you will find a gallery of photos from the event.

This independent, local reporting by our Report for America Corps members is brought to you in part by the generous support of the Ashland County Community Foundation.