Ohio Flags of Honor Coming to Southwest General Hospital

MIDDLEBURG HEIGHTS, OH - LifeWorks of Southwest General, 7390 Old Oak Blvd — the hospital’s health and fitness facility — will welcome Ohio’s traveling memorial, “Ohio Flags of Honor,” today. The memorial, dedicated to the men and women who lost their life battling the war on terrorism in Afghanistan, Iraq and globally, will kick-off with an opening ceremony.

The ceremony will start promptly at 3:30 p.m. and will include the presentation of the 293 flags of the fallen soldiers. The hospital asks that anyone planning on attending the ceremony arrive no later than 3:15 p.m. to leave time for parking and seating.

There will also be a closing ceremony on Saturday, Oct. 8 at 3 p.m.

According to the Ohio Flags of Honor website, the organization begin more than a decade ago.

The Ohio Flags of Honor Foundation began in May 2004. Gino and Lisa Zimmer, parents of Specialist Nicholaus E. Zimmer, U.S. Army, were notified on Memorial Day that their son Nick had been killed in Kufa, Iraq. Through this tragic loss for the Zimmer family and with the gratitude they felt for the overwhelming support of veterans motorcycle clubs and organizations in attendance at the funeral, the Operation Iraqi Freedom Chopper Fund (OIFCF), a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, was established.

A year later, the state was notified that a number of Marines Lima Company 3rd Battalion/25th Regiment were returning from Iraq. The marines had suffered severe losses during the tour and the city of Lima wanted to honor their losses. Members of a local American Legion Post made plans to set up an "Avenue of Flags" at Rickenbacker Field, south of Columbus, that the returning Marines could view as they passed by. These “Flags of Honor” were to be flown in honor of their comrades who were not returning with them, along with dozens of "tribute" flags, sponsored by Ohio veteran organizations, displayed separately.

The Rickenbacker display was well received and appreciated by all who saw it. Many asked how this memorial could tour Ohio for others to see. The next day, the OIFCF was contacted by the organizers of the flag display for Lima Company. After some discussion, it became apparent that the Operation Iraqi Freedom Chopper Fund could have more impact by focusing on Ohio’s fallen soldiers through the “Ohio Flags of Honor” memorial tribute. Thus, on October 15th, 2005, the OIFCF became the Ohio Flags of Honor Foundation.

Image from Southwest General Hospital