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Spencerville veterans park taking shape
February 03, 2012 7:29 PM
SPENCERVILLE — The Spencerville Area Veterans Memorial Park Commission is making a final push to complete the park in time for a Memorial Day dedication.
And that will take a little additional funding, commission member George H. Cox said during an interview Thursday.
“We're making improvements,” said Cox, a Marine veteran and a former post commander at the Spencerville Veterans of Foreign Wars. “We have raised $132,000. That's incredible for a small village like Spencerville.
“The bad part is, we still need $35,000 to $40,000 more to complete the shelterhouse and things like the stainless steel lighting fixtures to be embedded in the walkway,” he said.
Village officials broke ground Nov. 11, 2010, in the vacant lot at Sixth and Main Streets in the village's northwest corner. In the 15 months since then, volunteer workers have poured the cement walkways and foundation for the memorial's star-shaped base, assembled the polished granite pedestal and pillars and affixed the bronze rifles and globe on top, completing the 18-foot tall centerpiece.
Drainage pipes and the conduit for lighting also have have been installed.
The monument features five adjoined granite columns and 10 markers detailing the history of America's conflicts. Planners said they intended to create something that's educational, but the conflicts won't take precedent over veterans.
Work is at a virtual standstill for winter, Cox said, but it should resume in March with additional walkways to be poured, memorial etched bricks to be laid along with landscaping, lighting and construction of a shelterhouse.
The commission is grateful for the widespread support for the park. Contributions have come from student groups, loved ones of fallen veterans and the surviving veterans themselves.
“We have one guy, he's a Vietnam veteran, and he got cancer from Agent Orange and had to have a leg removed last year,” Cox said. “And this young man gave $300 for the Vietnam veterans marker.”
Spencerville is a town that has always had a strong connection with its veterans, especially through the local Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion posts. But the commission was careful to include a cross-section of the community. Commission members have indicated it will be a community park, rather than a VFW park or Legion Park.
Checks payable to the Spencerville Area Veterans Memorial Park Commission may me mailed to the commission at P.O. Box 93, Spencerville, OH 45887.
You can comment on this story at www.limaohio.com.
And that will take a little additional funding, commission member George H. Cox said during an interview Thursday.
“We're making improvements,” said Cox, a Marine veteran and a former post commander at the Spencerville Veterans of Foreign Wars. “We have raised $132,000. That's incredible for a small village like Spencerville.
“The bad part is, we still need $35,000 to $40,000 more to complete the shelterhouse and things like the stainless steel lighting fixtures to be embedded in the walkway,” he said.
Village officials broke ground Nov. 11, 2010, in the vacant lot at Sixth and Main Streets in the village's northwest corner. In the 15 months since then, volunteer workers have poured the cement walkways and foundation for the memorial's star-shaped base, assembled the polished granite pedestal and pillars and affixed the bronze rifles and globe on top, completing the 18-foot tall centerpiece.
Drainage pipes and the conduit for lighting also have have been installed.
The monument features five adjoined granite columns and 10 markers detailing the history of America's conflicts. Planners said they intended to create something that's educational, but the conflicts won't take precedent over veterans.
Work is at a virtual standstill for winter, Cox said, but it should resume in March with additional walkways to be poured, memorial etched bricks to be laid along with landscaping, lighting and construction of a shelterhouse.
The commission is grateful for the widespread support for the park. Contributions have come from student groups, loved ones of fallen veterans and the surviving veterans themselves.
“We have one guy, he's a Vietnam veteran, and he got cancer from Agent Orange and had to have a leg removed last year,” Cox said. “And this young man gave $300 for the Vietnam veterans marker.”
Spencerville is a town that has always had a strong connection with its veterans, especially through the local Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion posts. But the commission was careful to include a cross-section of the community. Commission members have indicated it will be a community park, rather than a VFW park or Legion Park.
Checks payable to the Spencerville Area Veterans Memorial Park Commission may me mailed to the commission at P.O. Box 93, Spencerville, OH 45887.
You can comment on this story at www.limaohio.com.
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