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 Northeast Ohio; Reading, Ohio; Florence, Kentucky; and Hartford, Wisconsin, have adopted the Witness Tree Ceremony.  In Northeast Ohio:  Tallmadge, Fairlawn VFW, Green, Silver Lake, Streetsboro VFW, Cuyahoga Falls VFW, Wadsworth, The Military Family Center, Summit County Valor Court, and Stark County Honor Court.   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
5:30pm daily, 12 noon on 11/11

Fairlawn, OH
Bicentennial Park
3487 S Smith Road
Fairlawn, OH 44333

Louisville, OH
Military Family Center
5495 Meese Rd NE
Louisville, OH 44641

Silver Lake, OH
Outside near Village Hall
2961 Kent Road
Silver Lake, OH 44224
11:00am daily

Stark County Honor Court
Stark County Courthouse
115 Central Plaza N
Canton, OH 44702
Noon daily

Streetsboro, OH
Evergreen Cemetery
Veterans Memorial Area
5:00pm daily

Summit County Courthouse
Courtyard
209 S. High Street
Akron, OH 44308
9:00am daily

Wadsworth, OH
Trinity United Church of Christ
215 High Street
Wadsworth, OH 44281
11:00am daily

Hartford, WI
Bernd Park, near 911 Memorial
115 N Rural Street
Hartford, WI 53027

Florence, KY
Florence Government Center Veterans Memorial
8100 Ewing Blvd
Florence, KY 41042

For questions about Witness Tree locations, please contact Matt Horner at (330) 619-2032.

Witness Tree in the News:

Trees bear witness to tragedy of veteran suicides

Veteran hangs 22 dog tags on tree in Ohio every day for mental health awareness