News
Service to Country - Service to Community
Eleven current Foster Families to be honored for past Military Service
Local foster families who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces were recognized at the Tuesday, November 10 Lorain County Commissioners meeting. Of the 75 foster families currently licensed through Lorain County Children Services, eleven are Veterans, demonstrating that Service to Country can frequently lead to Service to Community. Seven out of the eleven Veterans/foster parents were present for the recognition.
Jacqueline Smith, a caseworker for Lorain County Children Services and currently actively serving with the United States Army Reserves represented the agency by introducing the Veterans to the Lorain County Commissioners.
The foster parents honored for their service to country include:
- Kerry J. J. Grant, Sr., U.S. Navy
- Aaron R Brlas, U.S. Navy
- Terry Futrall, U.S. Navy
- Richard A Knowlton, U.S. Navy
- Wayne A Brown, U.S. Navy
- David K Eggert, U.S. Army
- James M. Roth, U.S. Air Force
- Fredrick Gerald Young, U.S. Marine Corps
- Gary B. Bush Sr., U.S. Army
- Vivian L. Bush, U.S. Army
- Chris Kolmorgen, U.S. Army
“We were at first a little surprised when we began to realize just how many of our foster parents are also Veterans,” said Kris Ross, Manager of Lorain County Children Services. She added, “But just as quickly, we realized that this isn’t very surprising at all knowing how military service shapes leaders committed to the greater good.”
In addition to the foster families who are Veterans and Caseworker Jacqueline Smith who gave agency introductions, Children Services also has two additional staff memmbers who are veterans - Ann Barth (Army) and Elaine Zemanek (Air Force.)
(Photo Credit: Tish Palos. Standing from left to right: Elaine Zemanek, Gary Bush, Vivian Bush, Kerry Grant, Aaron Brlas, Richard Knowlton, Jim Roth, Rick Young, Commissioner Lori Kokowski, Commissioner Ted Kalo, Commissioner Matt Lundy. Kneeling, left to right: Jacqueline Smith, Ann Barth)