No blood was reported, but there was some sweat and a few tears this past Veterans Day (Nov. 11). Members of the Oxford Township Parks and Recreation Department volunteered their holiday time off to help out a local veteran.
‘They did a good job,? 86-year-old Jim Ricketts said.? I can’t get around like a I used to.?
What the volunteers did was spruce up the Ricketts family’s 2-and-a-half acre, Ray Road yard. Leaf blowers, weed whackers and chainsaws were blazing as the crew pruned trees, cleared shrub piles, cleaned the lawn of leaves and tidied up flower gardens. They crew spent about four hours helping out the Ricketts.
‘It’s appreciated,? Ricketts said.
Parks & Rec. Director Ron Davis said his staff was happy to help out the Ricketts family, even though Veterans Day is a non-work day.
‘It’s nice to have a day off, but there’s a reason we have that day off — the men and women of the armed services, our veterans who sacrificed for us to have that day off,? Davis said.
Shirley Ricketts, 80, was a little overcome with emotions when the crew showed up at 8 in the morning.
‘Oh boy. It was very unexpected,? she said.
Mr. Ricketts is a 1940 Oxford High School graduate. After graduation he served in the United States Navy during World War II, aboard the USS Manila Bay. The aircraft carrier fought in the Pacific Theatre, during the war.
‘It was hit by a kamikaze suicide bomber,? Ricketts said. ‘She eventually sank.?
He served in wartime for two years and ten days (not that he was counting) and received his honorable discharge with the rank of Seaman first-class as an Aviation Machinist’s Mate. After the war he graduated from General Motors Institute and worked in Warren at the GM tech center. Ricketts worked on the engineering team designing ‘future? engines.
‘Worked on a steam engine for cars and gas turbine engines for their show vehicles,? he said.
The Ricketts have six children, 17 grandkids, 15 great grandkids and ‘two more greats on the way,? Shirley said.
Their daughter Maryanne and her husband Tracy Alexander both served in the armed services and are back from tours in Iraq. Shirley also said, they have two grandsons, Seth Hensinger and Paul Cooper, who are serving in the military.
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When the parks and recreation crew was leaving, Davis said he hopes to make volunteering on Veteran’s Day an annual gig.
‘I worked out well. If we get more volunteers from the community, I can see us have three or four crews, helping out three or four veterans. I can see this growing,? he said.
It may be a year away, but if future volunteers can sign up now, by calling Davis at 248-628-1720.