HANCOCK COUNTY, Ohio — Storybook trails allow families to enjoy a children's book story while taking a walk.
In Hancock County, local veterans are being remembered in a similar way.
Last year, the Hancock County Veterans Services office was awarded a local grant from the Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation to install 4 story trail placards along the Hancock County Heritage Trail to showcase historical images and stories of local veterans and community response from the War of 1812, Civil War, World War I and World War II.
Nichole Coleman, veterans services executive director, said the goal is to share the veterans' stories with members of the community.
"Ideally, you'll be walking with someone else and maybe talking about the veterans you know, or if there's a veteran walking with you, ask them about their time in service," she said.
Now, the office has received a second local grant to finish the project and is set to install four more placards this summer focusing on the Korean War, Vietnam War, Gulf War and the global war on terror.
Before then, the veterans services office is asking for local veteran stories that can be showcased. Even if the stories aren't selected for the project, they could be used in future projects.
"Every experience that a veteran may have is unique and they're all very valuable. There's no story out there that shouldn't be told," said Ed Newton, resiliency operations manager for the veterans services office.
Coleman said her office will be posting the online application to fill out the stories from local veterans to be featured on these placards within the next two months.
"As we're gathering the stories, we might as well hold onto them and figure out how to share them with the community because that's really what this is all about," she said.
Also this Saturday, the veterans services office is holding a Veterans Empowerment Fair at the Owens Community College Findlay campus from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Along with breakfast, lunch and a keynote speaker, representatives from multiple groups will be present as well.
Organizers say it's important for local veterans to attend so they can begin the process of transferring their primary care to the Findlay Veterans Affairs clinic opening later this year.
"I think what they're looking at is probably Seneca County, Hancock County, Putnam County, and maybe a little bit of Wood County; that's probably where they will be pulling their veterans from," Coleman said.