Standing tall

The Medina County Gazette » Standing tall: "It was during this ceremony the Brunswick American Legion Post 234 presented a blue two-star banner to Barb Demczyk, in honor of her sons Joe and Andy, who will be deployed with Megan.
The Blue Star Banner program, for mothers in honor of their sons and daughters serving the country, has been around since World War I, said John Prior, Americanism chairman of Post 234.
When Prior found out his stepson, Staff Sgt. David Garrett, would be deployed with Megan’s unit — Company G of the 237th Brigade Support Battalion — he was inspired to honor all the mothers of the soldiers in the company.
With the go-ahead from company commander Capt. Timothy O’Connor, the American Legion presented 123 blue star banners, funded by the women’s auxiliary at Post 234, to the mothers of soldiers in Company G.
“On Dec. 9, we did a symbolic presentation to (Demczyk), as a representative of all the Company G mothers,” Prior said. “This is not a new program, it’s been around. It’s just being reinvigorated.”
Nancy recalled her own mother having blue star banners honoring her brothers in service, but the thought of being in those shoes one day never crossed her mind.
“I would never have expected to get one, to be in that position,” she said. “And now I have two — Megan’s and Katrina’s.”"