The Witness Tree
History and Significance
Several years ago, The Rev. Scott Hutchinson, founder of “Compass” in Perkasie, Pennsylvania modeled their veteran’s ministry on Warriors Journey Home. One community awareness program Rev. Hutchinson developed was “The Witting Tree.” Each day from November 1 – 11 he and a Viet Nam veteran placed 22 dog-tags on a tree at a main thoroughfare in their community. The point was to emphasize the daily 22 veteran suicides, raising awareness that many veterans were suffering. When Scott, a WJH board member, shared this ceremony with me, I thought; We can do that here and name it The Witness Tree.
Warriors Journey Home, Tallmadge, Ohio started the daily ceremony. Other communities in Ohio, Kentucky, and Wisconsin have adopted the Witness Tree Ceremony. Each day, from November 1 – 11, a brief meditation is read and 22 dog-tags are placed on the Witness Tree calling to mind the war is not over for our veterans. By November 11 the tree will hold 242 dog-tags, signifying of the loss. In Warriors Journey Home the suicide is considered a casualty of war, Killed After Action.
The community gathers at the tree to remember, and to bear testimony to the truth of war; the sacrifices made, the long suffering by those who bear the impact of violence. The focus is on the living, those who are “coming home” following their time in the military service, and our responsibility to bring them home.
Locations
Cuyahoga Falls, OH
Ralph Huff VFW Post 1062
1581 Main Street
Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44221
5:15pm daily
Facilitator: Keith Van Buskirk
keithmax.vanb@gmail.com
Fairlawn, OH
Bicentennial Park
3487 S Smith Road
Fairlawn, OH 44333
11:00am daily
Facilitator: Mike Soful
mike@thebizqb.com
Green, OH
John Torok Community & Senior Center
4224 Massillon Road
Green, OH 44720
Noon daily
Facilitator: Michael Day
michaeld@ibh.org
Kirtland, OH
Kirtland City Hall
9301 Chillicothe Rd
Kirtland, OH 44094
Noon daily
Facilitator: Keith McCrory
keithmccrory0114@gmail.com
Silver Lake, OH
Outside near Village Hall
2961 Kent Road
Silver Lake, OH 44224
11:00am daily
Facilitator: John Schluep
captainjms1951@gmail.com
Stark County Honor Court
Stark County Courthouse
115 Central Plaza N
Canton, OH 44702
Noon daily
Facilitator: Stan Nabors
stannabors@gmail.com
Streetsboro, OH
Evergreen Cemetery
Veterans Memorial Area
5:00pm daily
Facilitator: Aaron Hatzo
ahatzo@gmail.com
Summit County Courthouse
Courtyard
209 S. High Street
Akron, OH 44308
9:00am daily
Facilitator: Karl Nejdl
knejdl1371@icloud.com
Wadsworth, OH
Trinity United Church of Christ
215 High Street
Wadsworth, OH 44281
11:00am daily (11:30am on Sundays)
Facilitator: Peggy Hegbar
hegbarp353@gmail.com
Hartford, WI
Bernd Park, near 911 Memorial
115 N Rural Street
Hartford, WI 53027
9:00am daily
Facilitator: Jim Schlief
james.schleif@gmail.com
Florence, KY
Florence Government Center Veterans Memorial
8100 Ewing Blvd
Florence, KY 41042
Facilitator: Susan Diamond
sdiamond@florencechristian.org
For questions about Witness Tree locations, please contact Elyse Kemmerline at ekemmerlineWJH@gmail.com.
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