PERKINS TWP.

During the football season, Ohio Veterans Home considers Perkins High the OVH's home team, transporting residents to watch the Pirates during home games.

On Saturday, football players from Perkins will show their support for the home, pitching in to help the Paladin Knights' annual summer picnic.

Gary Wilder, president of the local chapter of Paladin Knights, said his veterans support organization plans to feed all 700 residents at the OVH. Residents who can't attend the picnic in the OVH pavillion will have trays of food brought to them.

"Those guys fought for our freedom. This is a way for us to say thank you," said Wilder, a Vietnam veteran.

He said the veterans will be brought to the pavillion for lunch and offered hot dogs, hamburgers, potato salad, baked beans, desserts and juice.

The Irish Heritage Pipe Band, a bagpipers group, will perform, and a member of the Paladin Knights will serve as a DJ. AMVETS Post 32 of Elyria will provide a 21-gun salute, and the Navy ROTC squad from Admiral King High School in Lorain will perform a drill.

"We try to do different things every year for them," said Wilder.

The football players will help residents in wheelchairs get to the pavillion, said Vicki Bird, a representative from the Perkins High School Football Parent Committee.

"There are a lot of big strong boys to get the residents down," Bird said.

The players also will help the residents get their food, carrying trays for people who't carry their own Wilder said.

"This will be the third year they've helped us," Wilder said.

Bird said that 42 players showed up last year, and she expects that everyone who can make it will show up Saturday. The new football coach at Perkins High, David Brausch, has been very supportive, Bird said.

This fall, the football team also will do a food and clothing drive for Care and Share to help provide a Thanksgiving Day meal, Bird said.

During football season, the OVH staff transports residents to watch the Perkins Pirates play, said Gary Chetwood, director of public affairs for the OVH.

"The guys get a kick out of it," Chetwood said. "A lot of people forget that we're part of this community, and these guys like football."

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