Our last event was hosted by the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science. This event was in the making for more than a year. We met the school’s administrator, Karen Giles last year at the Ohio Funeral Director’s Convention in Columbus. She was extremely impressed with our exhibit and worked with us to create an event at her school. It was our pleasure to be a part of Operation Welcome Home a 3 day event celebrating Armed Forces Day. It included a full day CEU program for funeral directors and alumni reception on Friday. Saturday was an open house with presentations, ceremonies, and cook out for the public to enjoy. On Sunday we moved to the Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum, the second largest cemetery in the country.
On Saturday Karen Giles who is a retired Colonel in the Air Force, gave a presentation about her experience as the director of the Port Mortuary Center at Dover Air Force Base from 2003-2008. This Base is the intake and preparation point for all military and government employee deaths overseas. The focus of her talk was about the process of returning our fallen service men and women to their families for burial. It was sobering and heart wrenching to hear about the reality of war and the terrible effects of IEDs and combat deaths. I can’t imagine how difficult it must be for their families to cope with not being able to see their loved ones as they remembered them. I was also filled with a sense pride to learn how much attention to detail and care is ensure they are returned in their proper uniform and to allow the family to view the remains if possible. Colonel Giles’ presentation truly reminded me how important a funeral can be to give closure to the deads’ loved ones.
On Sunday we moved to the Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum. This is the 2nd largest cemetery in the United States and is more the 800 acres. Frank and I were able to take a cemetery walk and view a small portion of this vast and beautiful cemetery. Our tour guide Diana Brake gave us a great tour. It was a fantastic history lesson. It is amazing that historical scope that can be found by researching the lives of those buried. We learned of Cincinnati’s heritage, history, its industries and its place in Ohio’s and America’s history. The architecture and burial customs were fascinating as well. I encourage everyone to go to cemetery pick out the most intriguing headstone and start digging into the past (figuratively of course). It is amazing where it can lead.
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