Renae Salyer is joined by a contingent of personnel at RE/MAX in Syracuse to dedicate a red canoe in honor of our nation’s veterans. Shown are Salyer, left; associate brokers Sara Pritchard and Heather Jackson; Melissa Longenecker, office administrator; broker-owners Melody Cusick and Rita Roberts; and Jeremy Doerr, associate broker. Photo by Ray Balogh.

By Ray Balogh
InkFreeNews

SYRACUSE — The ninth of 14 flower-laden red canoes to be placed around Syracuse was dedicated in a brief ceremony on Thursday, July 29, at RE/MAX Partners in Syracuse.

The canoe, filled with red and purple petunias and white floral accents, is dedicated to the nation’s veterans, as determined by the owners of the RE/MAX business, which sponsored the monument.

“We felt it was important to give back to the community and support the vets for all they have done for us to provide our freedom,” said Melody Cusick, broker and co-owner of the real estate location located at 300 S. Huntington St.

Renae Salyer, executive director of the Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce, said, “The community had a hand in helping prepare the canoe. Kent Renner generously volunteered his time to paint it.

“Roxann Arnott and Brenda Daugherty volunteered their time preparing and planting the canoe with flowers.”

The chamber foundation provided the flowers.

Each of the RE/MAX personnel who attended the dedication has intimate familiarity with the role veterans have played in preserving American liberty. U.S. Army veteran Jeremy Doerr, an associate broker with the firm, served as rifle team leader in the 82nd Airborne from 1991-1995. He was stationed at Fort Bragg in North Carolina.

All the other participants have family members — including parents, grandfathers, husbands, daughters, aunts and uncles — who served in the armed forces.

Salyer said, “Donations are being accepted to grow the Red Canoe Flower Fund.” Tax-deductible donations can be made online at www.swchamber.com/swcc-foundation-inc or by mail to SWCC Foundation Inc., P.O. Box 398, Syracuse, IN 46567.

The SWCC Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization.

For more information, call Salyer at (574) 457-5637.