Remembering Joshua and Nicholas: Wings of Hope 2011

Saturday, June 18, 2011

By Nick Schneider, Assistant Editor

A day of music, silent auctions, face painting, air brush tattooing, contests, airplane rides, a photography show, good food and fellowship and remembering Joshua Merritt and Nicholas Decker took place Saturday for the third annual "Wings of Hope" at the Shawnee Airport near Bloomfield. Joshua was only 11 and his best friend Nicholas was 10 when they passed away within one month of each other in 2009 because of a incident that left them with burns covering 90 percent of their bodies. The boys were sustained the burns when a fire erupted after gasoline was poured on a burn pile at Scotland. A good crowd came during the afternoon, after the threat of rain subsided. A bird release was conducted to remember the two boys as well as John David Hamlin, who helped with the first Wings of Hope event. Money raised from the benefit event will go to scholarships and helping youngsters in the community.

Members of the Richland-Taylor Township Fire Department, based in Scotland, talked about fire safety at Saturday's Wings of Hope event.
Pilot Mike Combs buckles in a youngster who was going on a plane ride.

Seven-year-old Lauryh Sutton,of Worthington, enjoyed her cotton candy.
Brayden Stremming, 7, of Linton was all smiles as he looks at the paint tattoo of an eagle that was the work of Wings of Hope volunteer Tracy Lady.
Bo Briggs, 7, of Bloomfield, transformed into Spiderman thanks to a facing painting by Wings of Hope volunteers.
Carly Rader, 8, of Bloomfield, took the appearance of a bright blue butterfly -- thanks to some face painting.
Wings of Hope event organizer Brenda Combs tries her luck at throwing a ball at the bulls eye, trying to sink Jeanette Walker, who took her turn in the dunking booth.
Faith Boeltor, of Bloomfield, took her turn at throwing at the bulls eye of the dunking booth arm.
Jeanette Walker, of Bloomfield, is all smile after going down in the dunking booth.
Wings of Hope volunteer Jackie Haddix announces the start of another event.
Greene County Humane Society volunteer Ali Eichhorst tries to teach a trick to "Hershey", a lab mix during Saturday's Wings of Hope event at Shawnee Field. The dog is available for adoption.