FAIRFIELD TWP. – Wednesday’s set up of the entry monuments on the Veterans Memorial at Heroes Park completes the imaginative and prescient for the memorial and park.
It comes sooner or later earlier than Fairfield Township’s Veterans Day observance throughout which the committee that introduced the $396,000 challenge to fruition will symbolically hand off the duty of the memorial to the township’s board of trustees.
“The plan that we proposed is accomplished. It turned out nice. This finishes your complete design that was within the video and completes the challenge,’’ stated Fred Valerius, chairman of the Veterans Memorial Committee.
“We’re preserving the recollections alive of those that handed. We’re elevating the extent of assist for individuals who served, significantly those that served in Vietnam. In doing that, we’re bringing individuals collectively.”
The memorial sits on the entrance to Heroes Park, positioned behind the administration constructing on the nook of Morris and Millikin roads.
“It’s very seen, very accessible. Folks have to stroll by the Veterans Memorial to get to the playground – that was intentional,” Valerius stated.“That is extra accessible to lots of people than going to the cemetery. However it’s extra participating and it tells a narrative.”
Twelve granite benches tracing the historical past of wars and conflicts line the surface perimeter of the memorial space.
Monuments for the US Navy, Marine Corps, Military, Air Drive and Coast Guard encompass a centerpiece planter with a flagpole. Every monument has photographs from that department of service etched into them.
The again incorporates plaques itemizing the names of service members who have been killed or are lacking in motion, Gold Star households, and those that acquired the Purple Coronary heart.
“I noticed a grandma taking her grandchild over there, holding arms,’’ stated Trustee Shannon Hartkemeyer. “She was pointing issues out. That intergenerational, academic second the place the tales have been shared – that’s the intent. That actually touched my coronary heart.”
Subsequent 12 months QR codes will likely be added to the memorial in order that guests can research the historical past of every monument, the way it got here to fruition, as one other academic element, stated Julie Vonderhaar, township administrator.
“Lots of people for a very long time had a imaginative and prescient to honor our veterans. We believed in that and needs this. The efforts between Fairfield Township and the vets committee have been extremely symbiotic since day one,’’ Hartkemeyer stated.
“Transferring ahead, Fairfield Township will shield this monument the identical approach veterans defended the nation.
Thursday’s program set
A mini-parade from Fairfield East Elementary Faculty begins at 11 a.m., Thursday. It travels down Morris Highway, previous Fairfield North Elementary Faculty and into Heroes Park.College students from each faculties ship off and greet the parade with flags and indicators cheering the veterans who will likely be using within the parade.
The Veterans Day observance program begins at 11:30 on the memorial. Fairfield Faculties Superintendent Billy Smith will act because the grasp of ceremonies.
College students from Butler Tech’s Prison Justice Program will function the Colour Guard. They may greet veterans of every service department. Present choir Rhythm Categorical will sing the Star Spangled Banner and a bagpiper will play patriotic tunes, together with Faucets.
Veteran Barney Landry Jr., 95, will function the keynote speaker. He’s a West Level graduate and served as an Air Drive fighter pilot through the Korean Conflict and a nuclear particle check pilot.
Landry, Butler County’s 2021 Veteran of the Yr, additionally was on the veterans committee and was a significant contributor to the memorial.
For Info or to make donations for enhancements or upkeep of the memorial contact Dianne French at 513-785-2247.
