HARROD — This year marked the 20th anniversary of the Veterans Memorial Park and a rededication ceremony was held during the Pork Rind Heritage Festival on Saturday.
The Harrod Veterans Memorial Park is a web of concrete paths leading visitors around to plaques, some of which give details of the wars America has fought throughout history, others list veterans who have served and others give information on the military equipment set around the park. The park has an anchor from the USS Texas, a Huey helicopter, an M-60 tank and a 155 mm howitzer. Each item is an authentic piece of military equipment, said Suzanne Archer, co-founder of the Auglaize Township Historical Society.
“It had to be the real pieces of equipment,” she said.
Many veterans were in attendance for the rededication. Huey pilots with the American Huey 369 Organization had tents in the field behind the flags flying in the memorial. They were telling their personal stories about flying Hueys during the Vietnam War and giving people who joined the organization for a $100 membership fee rides in a Huey.
“Our mission is the preservation of Hueys, educating people about the role they play, and paying tribute to our veterans,” said John Walker, organization president and co-founder and a U.S. Marine Corps veteran Huey pilot.
He said this is the 11th season the organization has been attending events such as the park rededication and Saturday marked the 169th event without being canceled because of Mother Nature or helicopter maintenance.
“We are made up of vets and true patriots,” Walker said of the organization members. “I define true patriots as anyone who never wore the uniform but supports our troops.”
Steve Kerchenfaut served in Vietnam in 1969-70 flying Hueys with the 176th Assault Helicopter Company. He also designed the Harrod Veterans Memorial Park.
He said around 15 to 17 members of the 176th were in attendance from around the country for the rededication ceremony Saturday.
“It’s the 20th anniversary,” Kerchenfaut said. “We are all entering the twilight of our youth and we thought we better do it.”
Archer, state Rep. Robert R. Cupp, and retired U.S. Army Col. Chip Tansill, director of Ohio Department of Veterans Services, spoke during the rededication ceremony.
The other co-founder of the Auglaize Township Historical Society, Lucy Winegardner, had the vision for the memorial park, Archer said.
“With the concept to preserve our past, protect our present and envision our future,” she said.
The park isn’t just dedicated to local or state veterans but to everyone who has served, Archer said.
Cupp said he comes to the parade every year but this year he also came for the rededication ceremony.
“This [the Harrod Veterans Memorial Park] is something everyone should see,” he said. “It keeps the promise of always remembering those who have served.”
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