Every day, when Sharon resident Dennis Secich goes to work at CCL Container, he sees his son Sean's picture on the wall.

Nancy Wilson, human resources manager at the company, said the company decided to ask all of its employees who have sons or daughters in the military to give pictures of their children for a bulletin board at the mill.

Secich's son is on active duty in the Air Force.

"It's so nice to have support at work," he said, "and to not be alone in a time of need. I've talked to my friends at other companies, and none of the other mills have anything like this."

Eight soldiers are honored in the display. In a sea of red, white and blue, seven are sons or daughters of employees, and one is a CCL employee who was called to active duty after Sept. 11 and hasn't been released from active duty yet.

One of the parents, Joanne Root of Sharon, says the company has been very understanding with military parents.

"The day before he was shipped out, he was able to make one phone call. I couldn't get the call because I was working," she said.

"I lost it. But (Ms. Wilson) let me go into her office and pull myself together."

Many of the workers have pictures of their sons and daughters all around their work stations, not just in the front display case. Ms. Root has pictures of her son, Richard, taped in her tool box, accompanied by an American flag and a picture of Jesus.

Daniel Bottenfield, whose son is in Kuwait, says the company lets him e-mail his son from the company computer.

"He has a sense of humor," he said, pointing to the subject of the computer message. "He put in, 'Good Morning Iraq,' like in 'Good Morning Vietnam.' "

The little things the company does for its employees, Secich said, make the difference.

"I've been with the company for 15 years, and can say the company has always been there to offer support and compassion when needed," he said.

Steve Crytzer of Hermitage also has a son overseas.

"I'm scared to death for my son," he said. "But I'm just as proud of what he's doing. He tells me he's not afraid of what he has to do."

The plant, in addition to posting the pictures of the workers' sons and daughters, put patriotic symbols throughout the building. American flags decorate rafter beams and the company also placed a protective glass shield over a mural designed by extrusions operator Dennis Studebaker commemorating Sept. 11. CLL also put a tribute to the service men and women on electronic message boards throughout the factory floor.

Each service member's name is listed, along with a message asking workers to remember the people in their prayers.

"We've all worked together for so long, we're like family," Ms. Root said. "If it happens to one person, everyone feels it."

You can e-mail Herald Staff Writer Amanda Smith-Teutsch at: ateutsch@sharonherald.com