Login | November 05, 2026
Summit County Court of Common Pleas Valor Court & Warriors Journey Home of Northeast Ohio host annual Witness Tree ceremony
Published: November 5, 2026
Summit County, Ohio: Judge Susan Baker Ross who serves as the Presiding Judge of Summit County Valor Court is once again partnering with Warriors Journey Home of Northeast Ohio to host their annual Witness Tree Ceremony.
The ceremony began Sunday, November 1st at 9:00 A.M. at the Summit County Court of Common Pleas Courtyard, located at 209 S. High Street in Akron, and continues daily at 9:00 A.M. each day through Veterans Day, Wednesday, November 11th.
Each morning, across the state, 22 dog tags will be placed on the Witness Tree — one for every veteran who dies by suicide each day in the United States. By Veterans Day, each tree will hold 242 tags, serving as both a memorial and a call to action.
“It is a calling heard in the heart and the soul of the community, asking us to share the weight of responsibility of service and sacrifice. Far too many Veterans are unable to restore what they gave of themselves and tragically lose the war within. The Witness Tree Ceremony brings us together in loving remembrance to honor their lives, and to move forward with the notion that it is our responsibility to help bring Veterans all the way home.” said Karl Nejdl, Board Member Warriors Journey Home.
“This event also places emphasis on Veterans Day, which we celebrate nationally as a day when we say thank you to Veterans for their service. Our team, participants and graduates are honored to support and attend the ceremony each day and we invite our community to join us.” said Judge Baker Ross.
“It is important for all of us to continue to acknowledge and promote awareness of veteran suicides, and the Witness Tree ceremony helps to do both. We remain committed to partnering with organizations such as Warriors Journey Home to expand support and services to our Valor Court participants,” said Baker Ross. Judge Susan Baker Ross stated, “My Valor Court team is grateful to share in this outward demonstration of homage to our veterans who suffer from internal wounds - wounds that many may never know about and wounds that we seek to heal in our veteran’s treatment court.”
For more information about Warriors Journey Home of Northeast Ohio visit: www.warriorsjourneyhome.org. You can contact the Summit County Court of Common Pleas Valor Court by contacting Rachia Garrett, MSW, Program Coordinator and Community Development Director at 330-643-2311 or rgarrett@summitcpcourt.com