Local gold star mom participates in wreath laying ceremony during Marine Week in Cleveland

CLEVELAND - Each weekday throughout Marine Week, a wreath laying ceremony will be held in Voinovich Park in Cleveland.

A U.S. Marine Corps Bugler and Color Guard honor and pay tribute to fallen service members during the brief service in front of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.

On Tuesday, a gold star mom, Sandra Mendez Ruiz, of Cleveland, took part in the wreath laying. She was given the high honor of participating because her son, LCpl. David Mendez Ruiz, a Marine from the Brook Park 3rd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, was killed while serving overseas in Iraq on Nov. 12, 2005.

“I am beyond honored to be here. It makes you reflect, not just on David, but on everyone else. It really makes you appreciate what we, as a nation, stand for,” said Mendez Ruiz.

Visitors can watch future wreath laying ceremonies at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday on the Ninth Street Pier at Voinovich Park.

For a complete schedule of Marine Week events, you can follow this link: http://on.wews.com/LMzWBD