Hartford, WI – About a dozen people from Hartford joined Chaplain Jim Schleif on a brisk Sunday morning at 9 a.m. for the first of 11 Witness Tree ceremonies.
(note in advance – sound hindered by 40 mph winds)
“The significance of the Callery pear tree is it survived the 9/11 attacks. Although damaged it survived and continues to flourish today and that symbolizes what we’re doing with the Witness Tree and veterans who come home need lifting up and to heal,” said Schleif.
“We have an obligation and a duty to welcome our veterans home but also share the responsibility of their sacrifice.”
The event is designed to raise awareness to the tragedy of loss of veteran life by suicide and emphasize the need for our communities to better support those who have served.
During the ceremony guests will hang 22 blank dog tags to represent the average of 22 veterans who lose their life to suicide during every 24-hour period.
Witness Tree is an extension of a larger Veterans’ support program called Warrior’s Journey Home: Listen – Speak – Heal.
Witness Tree ceremonies begin November 1 to 11 and will be held at Bernd Park in Hartford. The events are daily starting at 9 a.m. near the 911 Memorial. There is another event daily at noon in front of the Herb Tennies Center a the Washington County Courthouse on Highway 33.
Click HERE to watch a Witness Tree ceremony from 2018.
For more information, please contact Jim Schleif: james.schleif@gmail.com 262-384-8124
