Dorchester Banner/Dave Ryan
Members of the Veterans’ Recognition Committee of the Eastern Shore of Maryland gathered at the home of Jeanne Webster for a meeting on Friday. Standing is Ms. Webster, who is the assistant treasurer of the group. Seated from the left are Chaplain George Ames, Co-Chairs Shirley Jackson and Henrietta Jarrett, and Treasurer Edwin Lloyd.[/caption] CAMBRIDGE – The Veterans’ Recognition Committee (VRC) of the Eastern Shore of Maryland wants you. With projects underway and many veterans to serve, the local group is looking for new members. The committee’s annual event in particular could use a few more hands. “We need held with our Veterans’ Recognition Day,” Assistant Treasurer Jeanne Webster said at a planning meeting on Friday. “It takes a lot of work.” The annual event is held every fall, and this year will mark its 20th anniversary. The tribute honors not only retired and active members of the five branches of the military, but also firefighters, police, Red Cross and disaster workers, all of whom place themselves in harm’s way to protect and assist others. “Only through the cooperation of many individuals, organizations and businesses can it be possible to have an unforgettable event,” committee members said in a prepared statement. While the annual tribute is a major aspect of what the committee does, it’s not all. Members also scan regional publications for obituaries of veterans, so they can send condolence cards to the families involved. With well over 600 sent last year alone, the job is done at considerable expense and effort. The VRC also cooperated in the work to install an eternal flame and monument at Beulah Veterans’ Cemetery near Hurlock, and places flags on graves there. At the meeting, members – or “the crew,” as they call themselves – emphasized that a person joining need not be a veteran, but simply have the desire to help. There’s pretty much just one requirement: “We love veterans,” Ms. Jarrett said. For information on the VFC, call Ms. Webster at 410-228-8644.