Bowling Green State University will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for a new Veterans Memorial on Thursday at 4 p.m. This memorial will commemorate individuals who have served the nation in the U.S. Armed Forces, as well as memorialize the courage, commitment and sacrifice of fallen students and alumni.
The memorial is becoming a reality thanks to a lead gift from Edward J. ’62 and Linda S. ’61 Reiter. Edward Reiter served as a captain in the U.S. Army Reserves and lieutenant in the U.S. Army Adjutant General’s Corp.
The concept for this memorial, and POW/MIA Chairs of Honor already in place, emerged from a series of conversations with BGSU veterans whose service spans from World War II to the current conflicts in the Middle East. The efforts were led by retired U.S. Marine Col. Theodore “Ted” Jenkins ’54, who has been instrumental in supporting veterans’ initiatives at BGSU.
The memorial, located in Carillon Park, is for the families and members of past conflicts, serves as a reminder for the university learning community to understand service in one of its highest forms and provides a place of solitude and contemplation for active service members on the BGSU campus.
