The Buckeye Region of American Veterans for Equal Rights (BRAVER) will be joining Governor and Mrs. Taft for the first time in Ohio history for Columbus’ Memorial Day Ceremony, as a LGBT Veterans Service Organization and Auxiliary, and will be laying an organizational wreath along with other veteran service organizations located throughout the State.BRAVER will be providing an Honor Guard to lay their Organizational Memorial Day “Military Pride” Wreath at the Veterans Plaza and Memorial Wall on the grounds of our Statehouse facing Third Street. The schedule of this historical event is between 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm, but BRAVER will be rallying at the Max and Ermas Restaurant between 10:00 am and 11:00 am located in the City Center Mall facing High Street.
BRAVER is inviting all those who are interested to join your veterans during this very special occasion for ALL Veterans, Active/Inactive Duty Personnel, and our supporting Spouses, Children and Civilians. Although this is a huge step forward for ALL Ohioans in regards to sexual orientation/gender identity, and while many of our service members are still serving our country under the current policy of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”; our country is at war on many fronts throughout the world; and this is a polarized political election year.
BRAVER wishes for those who do attend the ceremony to remember it is a solemn occasion requiring the highest level of respect and Sprit de Corp for our military service members who paid the ultimate price of securing our nation’s cherished freedoms. “BRAVER hopes to get as much community support as possible,” stated Todd Shinkle, BRAVER founder, “since this is our first time to participate in anything like this and we are Ohio’s only LGBT Veterans and supporting Civilian Organization, and we will be a definite minority.”
For details about the Memorial Day and Wreath Ceremony, BRAVER’s activities, or to make a donation to BRAVER, you may contact Todd Shinkle, BRAVER President, at Tel 614.777.4328, or at BRAVER P.O. Box 10814, Columbus, Ohio 43201, or at mshinkle@columbus.rr.com. You may visit our web site at www.braver.org., and Governor’s Taft’s web site for Veterans Affairs at http://veteransaffairs.ohio.gov/.
