Remembering EOD vets

By Ryan Streb, Service Manager; Streb Electric

Though the topics of this monthly column usually cover electrical safety and ways to save on your electrical bill, we thought it would be a good time to mention our campaign to honor U.S. Army Explosives Ordnance Disposal (EOD) veterans.

As an EOD soldier myself for nine years, training and working all over the country and spending most of 2019 deployed in Afghanistan, I saw some good friends lose their lives in the line of duty. Their names are etched on the EOD Memorial Wall at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida.

After I left the Army to move back to Lake County and start a family (my wife and I now have a beautiful 3-year-old daughter), I still wanted to stay connected in some way to this group of veterans. These warriors bravely put their lives on the line for their country by rendering safe or disposing of explosive devices.

Over several days this month, I personally go to the 30 gravesites of local EOD veterans and place flags of remembrance, traveling all over Northeast Ohio. We also buy more than 120 flags to be placed on veterans’ graves for the state of Ohio.

This is our way of showing honor, respect and remembrance. If you’d like to support our efforts, you can donate on our website. Memorial Day may come once a year, but for us, it’s an ongoing commitment. We hope you’ll join us.

Streb Electric is located at 36445 Biltmore Place, in Willoughby. The service company has earned a reputation for making sure homes are safe and free from electrical hazards. Call 440-953-5819 or visit StrebElectric.com for more information. To find out more about efforts to honor EOD warriors, go to EODWarriorFoundation.org.