One day last week, I turned this little corner over to Paul Bodnar, the longtime Harbor and current Jefferson softball coach, who wanted to express his appreciation toward the Francis family.

Along those lines, the inbox lit up yesterday with a message from an old friend. It’s a message that is very poignant, not only because of the time of year, but more importantly, because it’s subject matter is that which is near and dear to every one of our hearts.

With that, I defer my remaining time (space) today to someone whose words mean much more than anything I could offer:



Don,



Clearing up from mailing Christmas cards, I came across your November article, “Are you thankful,” that I cut out during our last visit this fall, reread it and then watched the movie, “It’s A Wonderful Life” with Jimmy Stewart.

By movie’s end, I began to think of Ashtabula County and my hometown for life, Orwell, Ohio and how I am thankful that I was given the opportunity not only to have begun my teaching career in Ashtabula County as a 22-year-old southern graduate from Murfeesboro, Tenn. (Middle Tenn. State University) but the opportunity to raise kids and a family on Main Street, USA, develop friendships with a host of individuals from various walks of life and being given the opportunity of leading a community with its dreams and aspirations for its residents.

But somewhere during this reminiscent process, tears began to form as I reflected back on May 27 or 28 (tough to remember specific date) when the family went to Cleveland Hopkins Airport to bring home to Orwell one of their own, Sgt. Kurt D. Schamberg, KIA, in Iraq and how the Ashtabula County community responded in saying, “Thank you.”

Somewhere in that movie, Clarence the Angel said, “Each man’s life touches so many other lives,” and that brought back reflections of the day that Ashtabula County friends responded with their hearts to lift the desperate hearts of a devasted family.

From Huntsburg, where they stood on the corner and said “thank you;” to Windsor, where they flew the American flag over State Route 322 for Kurt to pass under, those Stars and Stripes waving in a gentle breeze one more time; to the Ohio State Patrol barracks out of Saybrook and Orwell Village Police Department, who provided from Cleveland to Orwell, a fellow comrade and “brother in arms,” an escort of honor.

At the Orwell Village limits and in the house where Kurt and his siblings grew up, American flags were spaced up Main Street, with people (friends, schoolmates, teachers, seniors, veterans of many conflicts, children with hands over their hearts in respect) silently turned out on both sides of the highway.

From here, his siblings, Lance, Jay and Terah, led a walking procession to the funeral home passing so many friends during that half a mile. And it’s this walk and later at calling hours, while we, the family, were going through this desperate time, that the town, friends, Ashtabula County’s character, showed through in touching our hearts.

You don’t realize how many lives have touched your own and vice versa until a traumatic event incurs on your life and the inner heart and soul of human kind responds in such a loving way without regard for any giveback.

I and my family are so thankful for having the opportunity to have been and continue to be a part of the family that makes up this great corner of Northeast Ohio. We wouldn’t have made it without the considerations and friendships.

I hope that someday to repay these people who showed how much they appreciated one of their own children.

Don, to you and your staff, we are “thankful” for the constant and consistent reflections and reporting you all do about the people of Ashtabula County.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.



Tom Schamberg



Tom, I’m completely comfortable in speaking for all the lives you and your family have touched throughout the many years (including mine) and in saying you don’t owe anyone any type of repayment. This community is kicked around quite a bit — a good portion of it by ourselves — but its collective heart is one of its best qualities.

The way it reached out and embraced you and yours is the way we do things in these parts... the way you’ve done things all your life.

God bless Kurt and all of the brave men and women who put their lives on the line every day so we can enjoy the countless freedoms and blessings we do.



McCormack is the sports editor of the Star Beacon. Reach him at donmac@suite224.net.