Operation Honor 5K raises funds to assist local veterans
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – Aeddon Cayea of Medina sprints to finish on Bates Road in Medina today during the 6th annual Operation Honor 5K.
Cayea, 24, won the race in a time of 18:36. His brother Alden is a past winner of the race. There were 51 participants in the event today that started and ended near the Junior Wilson Sportsmen’s Club.
Operation Honor distributes about $5,000 a year to help local veterans in a financial pinch. It may be paying a utility bill, car payment or some other one-time financial stressor.
Jenn Thom, an Operation Honor leader, said veterans don’t tend to seek any help. She encouraged them to reach out to Operation Honor or have a local veterans group (the VFW, American Legion or Veterans Service Agency) send a message to Operation Honor about a veteran who needs a little financial help.
The group also donates to the Orleans County Joint Veterans Council to support a van service that takes veterans to medical appointments.
Sarah Surdel, one of the leaders of Operation Honor, said the organization will be looking to chronicle local veterans’ experiences in the military through an oral history initiative.
She noted the support for Operation Honor of the late Archie Washak, a Vietnam War veteran who passed away at age 76 on Oct. 15.
There have been $3,500 in memorials for Washak donated to Operation Honor.
“ We would like to document the experiences of our elderly veterans in order to conserve those experiences before they are lost,” Operation Honor states on its website. “We also hope to document the more modern experiences of our younger veteran generations, with the hopes they may find the sharing to be a therapeutic process for further healing.”
Surdel and Thom said the group has applications available for those willing to be interviewed, and is seeking volunteers to help with the project.
Alicia and Brad Zacher of Medina both ran the 5K today. They were welcomed at the finish line by their children, Henry and Harlow, who made they a poster.
Olivia Hill and Aeddon Cayea received American flags as their first place prize. Hill, 31, ran the 5K in 24:27.
This trio walked the course together. They include, from left: Laura Belson, Susan Howard (assistant district attorney) and Joe Cardone (the Orleans County DA).
Jenifer Cardone of Medina kept up a brisk pace during the race.
