By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Wood County officials and veterans believe those who gave their lives for their country deserve better.
So nearly two decades after it was first proposed, plans are underway to expand the veterans memorial area in front of the Wood County Courthouse. Though the plans aren’t completed, and the fundraising has yet to begin, a preliminary proposal for the area was presented Thursday to the county commissioners by Rob Eaton, head of courthouse complex security, and Steve Blausey, head of county maintenance.
“It’s such a small area out there, they can’t hold ceremonies,” Eaton said of veterans groups. “We want a presentable, honorable area.”
Some of the monuments to veterans are quite worn by the weather, and some recent wars are not recognized in the current memorial area on the west corner of the lawn in front of the courthouse.
Eaton and Blausey hope the project can be completed in time for the county’s bicentennial in 2020. The estimated cost for the project is $300,000.
The preliminary plans call for the cleaning and moving of the existing monuments on the grounds, plus the addition of others. The memorial area will remain on the west side of courthouse front lawn, but will be expanded.
A retaining wall with wrought iron fence is proposed along the North Prospect Street sidewalk. Lining that area will be six monuments – one for Civil War veterans, one for World War I and World War II, one for the Korean War, one for the Vietnam War, and one for Persian Gulf wars. Space will be left for a memorial to future wars.
Currently there is no monument for post 9/11 veterans.
“We need to honor those veterans,” Eaton said. “And we need the ability to expand. Unfortunately, there will be future conflicts.”
Further to the east in the veterans memorial area will be a Gold Star memorial and the Congressional Medal monument.
Benches are planned along the sidewalk leading to the courthouse, and a couple picnic tables are planned for under the large tree near the courthouse.
“We’re saving the big tree,” Blausey told the commissioners. The city arborist inspected the tree and said it’s good for another 50 years, he added. However, some of the smaller ornamental trees will have to be removed.
Plans call for the entire memorial area to be concrete, possibly stamped or colored.
“It’s going to become a destination,” Eaton said. “This courthouse is a destination.”
The site will be more inviting for veterans and for ceremonies in their honor, Blausey said.
“We really believe this is going to be a nice area for the public,” he said.
The WWI and WWII monument has suffered from weather erosion issues, and the bronze plaque on the front has not allowed for more names to be added appropriately, Eaton said. So the new front of the monument will have the names etched in stone – and will include up to nine additional names identified by the Wood County Genealogical Society.
The sketching of the proposed post 9/11 memorial shows two angel wings with veterans’ names inscribed on them, held together by an American flag.
“There has been talk for several years about changing the configuration” of the memorial area, Wood County Commissioner Doris Herringshaw said.
It’s important that the old monuments be cleaned, that new monuments be added for recent wars, and that the space be expanded, she said.
“It’s for all those who paid the supreme sacrifice, or at least served our country for freedom,” Herringshaw said.
Commissioner Ted Bowlus agreed the changes are necessary.
“Not only does it show patriotism, but it tends to unify our country,” which is needed, Bowlus said.
The plan to expand the veterans memorial area was first introduced in 2001, but did not progress.
“We’re to the point where something has to be done,” Wood County Administrator Andrew Kalmar said.
Eaton and Blausey hope to officially unveil plans for the veterans memorial area on May 8, at 10:30 a.m., when Navy Seal Chief Ed Byers is recognized as a Medal of Honor recipient. Byers grew up in the Tontogany area.
It is hoped that an artist’s rendition of the site will be available then, and that fundraising plans will be in place.
“We know people are going to come out of the woodwork to support this,” Eaton said. So he wants to have specifics on fundraising by then.
