“I hope it touches the hearts of people,” said Annabelle Rockwood, founder of “The Heart of a Soldier” and owner of THE LOFT, “and gives them a place to reflect on what the military does for our country.”

Annabelle is very familiar with all that the military does for us. Her father was in the Navy, she grew up in Oak Harbor, and her son is in the U.S. Army. Last year, he was deployed to Afghanistan for the first time, and the experience raised plenty of emotions. That is when “The Heart of a Soldier” was born.

In September, the heart-shaped chain link structure went up on the newly renovated 1937 Feed & Seed building. To help spread the word, she gave away 100 padlocks, and Custom Engraving & Embroidery donated 100 custom engravings. Anabelle put up two padlocks; one for her son, and one for her son’s wife, who is also in the military.

“Everybody has a story to tell,” said Annabelle, “and when people put up a lock, lots of tears are shed.”

During my visit, she surprises me with my own padlock, and when I think of what it should say, and who it should be for, my mind draws a blank.