Shelby Township hosts Patriot Day prayer service to honor fallen, first responders

To honor those that dedicate their lives to protecting the Shelby Township community at home and soldiers that paid the ultimate sacrifice defending the United States of America abroad, the Shelby Township held a prayer service Sept. 11.

Veterans Events Coordinator Phil Randazzo, a Vietnam veteran who’s honors include two Purple Hearts and two Bronze Stars for valor, and the Shelby Township Board of Trustees welcomed municipal officials as well as leaders from different faith communities and residents to provide a unified voice in support for the men and women in the military and emergency services that commit their lives to safeguarding others.

“It is moving to see everyone as we stand in unity to honor members of the military, our veterans and our first-responders, who protect and serve the United States of America at home and abroad,” Township Supervisor Rick Stathakis said.

“This is a date that our nation’s enemies chose to act in hate and terror, but it has become a date that our nation dedicates to honor and remember our greatest and bravest.”

The event featured a brief presentation from Randazzo and a prayer from Stathakis before it ended as Beverly Netzloff, sister of WWII fallen soldier William Netzloff and Shelby Township resident, offered a special prayer for the Township‘s new water feature adjacent to the Veterans Memorial.

“As a member of the Township’s veterans community, am I proud to welcome the residents of Shelby Township to come in and enjoy this beautiful new water feature,” Randazzo said. “It provides a place of quiet rest and reflection for folks visiting Township Hall where they can take a break after paying their respects to our community’s fallen heroes.”

The water feature will be formally dedicated in honor of “the residents of Shelby Township” Nov. 2 in a ceremony where Randazzo and several local veterans will show their gratitude to the community for its support of the military and veterans.

“Shelby Township is an amazing community that has always supported the military and its veterans,” Randazzo said. “There is a lot of patriotism in this community, and as a veteran there is nowhere else I would rather call home.”