Letters to the editor [Daily Record, The (Wooster, OH)]

Family helped while overseas

Editor:

I would like to take a few moments to make it known how appreciative I am of my family and how much I love them.

My grandmother has been one of the few constants in my life that I could always depend on, especially over the course of the last year. I had asked her to take my place as my 2-year-old son's guardian in my absence while I was serving overseas in Iraq. With the help of my mother, they pushed through the past several months to raise my son in the best way they knew how, and it shows with flying colors.

I had to leave Jasper behind shortly after his first birthday, and I am proud to say that in the 13 or so months I was away, he has grown into a very intelligent, independent and handsome little boy.

My worst fear out of this entire tour, was the possibility that Jasper wouldn't remember who his mother is. He laid that fear to rest the moment I stepped off my plane by calling me "mommy," running to me, and giving me the biggest welcome home hug. This was, by far, the most precious gift I could have ever received and made the events of this past year completely worthwhile.

With that said, thank you Omi and thank you Mom for an exceptional job well done. Thank you for protecting my most valued possession and showering him with love when I couldn't. Thank you for allowing me to do my job and allowing me to love my great country, as broken as she is. You are my heroes. I love you.

Jessica L. Albiez

Human Resource Specialist

United States Army

Wooster

Thanks fora greatTurkey Run

Editor:

We want to thank everyone who supported the fourth Rich Dalessandro Memorial Fall Turkey 5k Run and 2-Mile Run/Walk. Thank you to Main Gold business sponsors Refcotec, Wenger Excavating, Orrville VFW and Star Laser. Thanks to Silver Sponsors Second Sole, Gary's Drive-Thru, Downs Construction, Every-1-Fitness, Roger Werstler, LMT-MD. Custom Builders, Auble Funeral Home and Beth Simone-Party Lite. Thanks to Bronze Sponsors Aultman Hospital, Bellstores, Buehler's Fresh Foods, Chaffee Chiropractic, College Hills Honda, Commercial & Savings Bank, Crown Investments, Dalton class of 1989, Dalton Hair Design, Dave Warner CPA, Dicks Sporting Goods, Don Smith Auto Parts, <org>Douglas Insurance, Dunlap West, Electrical Systems Integration, Hartville Family Dentistry, Gabriel A. Russo DMD, Himes, Slater & Hershberger, Mount Hope AG Service, Orrville/Dalton YMCA, Pallotta Ford, PNC Bank, Powell Chiropractic Health Improvement Clinic, Prestige Plumbing, Santmyer Oil Co, Shearers, Silvia Bresson Massage Practitioner, Smith Dairy, Square One Marketing, Subway, Sugar Ridge Carving and Suppan Foot and Ankle Clinic.

Thank you to Akron General Health & Wellness Center, Anytime Fitness, Ambolina's, Auto Zone, Barnstone Cafe, Bead Cafe, Beautiful Baskets by Lora, Breastfeeding Center, Browns Furniture, Calvary Assembly of God Church, Chipotle, Cleveland Browns, Cleveland Indians, Curves, Dalton Hair Designs, Dalton Hardware, Das Dutch Kitchen, Dravenstott's, El Rancho Grande, Expert T's, Fiesta Hair, General Rent-All, Hochstetler Orchard, Homestead Hunting, Howmar Carpet, Jake'sRestaurant, Jim's Transmission, John's Bar & Grille, KC's Root Beer Stand, Karen's Garden Delights, Kick's Auto, Kidron Sporting Good, Kraus' Pizza, Lehman's, Lerch's Donuts, Lowe's, Malone University, Massillon YMCA, MC Sports, McDonald's, Michael's Bakery, Nail Spa, Neiss Body, Orrville Pet Spa and Resort, P.A.W.S. Cheese & Deli Shop, Putt n' Stuff, Riceland Golf Course, Roger Sommers, 7th Street Cafe, Shisler's Cheese, Shrimp Harbor, Smoothie King, Smucker's, Suttle Construction, Team in Training, Think Energy Management, Tips, Toes & Beyond, University of Akron, Wooster Natural Foods, and Yost Candy.

Thank you to the volunteers, Mayor Judy Cox, Dalton Police, EMTs, schools and administration, DJs Matt Steiner and Jeff Linder, Dalton Gazette, Daily Record, Orrviews, Bargain Hunter and the Ogle family for photography, and to everyone who donated in memory of Rich.

Thanks to all the runners and walkers who came even though the weather esd cold and rainy. We were able to raise $8,400, split between the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and Carol Curie and Michele Carathers of Dalton battling leukemia.

Gary and Betty Dalessandro

Bob and Chrissy (Dalessandro) Fratena

Dalton