Twins Brady and Callen Kelley, 6, help their grandfather Arnold Kelley lay a brick down to honor the service of Charles W. Hoover Saturday at the Stepping Stones of Honor ceremony in Parkersburg City Park. (Photo by James Dobbs)

PARKERSBURG — Veterans, loved ones and supporters gathered around the Stepping Stones of Honor memorial Saturday in City Park to remember those who have served in the military.

The Veterans Museum of the Mid-Ohio Valley honored 77 veterans by placing 77 bricks, said April Binkney, secretary and treasurer of the museum. They plan to add 75 more veterans during the next ceremony in July.

“Stepping Stones of Honor represents our veterans who served, and it allows them to be memorialized,” Binkney said. “So their families can tell their story. This memorial tells a story of everybody who served and what their duty was that they served.”

Families can purchase bricks with a veteran’s name, military branch and the location they served. During the ceremony, the veterans’ names were read and families would go up one by one to place their bricks at the memorial.

Scot Heckert, president of the Veterans Museum of the Mid-Ohio Valley, said it is important to him to honor veterans. Though he has not served in the military, his father, grandfather and some of his uncles did.

Mrs. West Virginia America 2022 Christina Fowler, second from left, leads the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance, with the help of her daughter Giuliana, 8, Saturday at the Stepping Stones of Honor ceremony in Parkersburg City Park. Also pictured are President of the Veterans Museum of the Mid-Ohio Valley Scot Heckert and April Binkney, secretary and treasurer of the museum. (Photo by James Dobbs)

“I felt that it’s my obligation to help carry on what it really means to be an American hero for them, not for me, but for them,” he said.

Heckert said this ceremony is to make sure veterans are not forgotten.

“Little things like this show us that they aren’t forgotten, and that they are truly honored and respected,” he said. “It’s a little bit of work for a lot of gratification.”

Christina Fowler, Mrs. West Virginia America 2022, was the guest speaker and led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. Fowler said there is tremendous meaning behind the ceremony and the legacy the bricks represent.

“It’s a beautiful thing — just watching them lay their dog tags and their photos underneath the bricks just really reminds us of why we’re here and all of the freedoms and liberties that we have and who fought for us,” she said.

Jo Bierkortte places a brick in remembrance of her husband James Bierkortte, while her daughter Amanda Bierkortte stands behind her in support Saturday at the Stepping Stones of Honor ceremony in Parkersburg City Park. (Photo by James Dobbs)

Fowler said her father was a Vietnam veteran who served in the Navy and her grandfather was a Korean War veteran in the Air Force.

“The life and the sacrifices that not only the servicemen and women make, but their families, mean a lot,” Fowler said.

Binkney said the museum plans to display a flag at Sunset Memorial Funeral Home for the month of May to celebrate Military Appreciation Month.

Information about purchasing a personalized brick is available by contacting the Veterans Museum of the Mid-Ohio Valley at 304-420-0332.

James Dobbs can be reached at jdobbs@newsandsentinel.com.

Scot Heckert talks about showing veterans the respect they deserve Saturday at the Stepping Stones of Honor ceremony in Parkersburg City Park. (Photo by James Dobbs)