City Notes: Veterans Memorial dedication inspiring reflections
Like so many Westerville families, I am grateful to have a strong family history of service to this country. Freeman Irelan, my grandfather, was a lineman with the 84th Infantry assigned to the 9th Army K Company during World War II. His commanding officer was William Simpson.
The woman he would marry after the war, Veronica Krupar, worked as “Rosie the Riveter” in the bomber plant in Cleveland. A petite lady (still living in Bellevue, Ohio, at 97 years old), the factory had to build special scaffolding to accommodate her height.
Watching the construction of Westerville’s Veterans Memorial near completion at the Westerville Sports Complex has me thinking fondly of my grandparents, along with my own father and a set of uncles who served in U.S. conflicts.
As we approach this year’s Veterans Day, and the dedication of the facility, I feel honored to share my family’s story and inspired to learn more about the stories of Westerville families that will become part of this special site.
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Westerville designed its Veterans Memorial as a place to build upon the former memorial in front of the armory on South State Street. We wanted to honor and represent the veterans of our community who served in any one of the six branches of the U.S. Armed Forces.
The project broke ground on Veterans Day last year, with the pledge to be complete on the same day of recognition this year.
On Friday, Nov. 11, the facility becomes the community’s signature space to honor and celebrate these men and women. All are invited to be part of a special ceremony (325 N. Cleveland Ave.) featuring special guests, including Maj. Gen. Deborah Ashenhurst, director of the Ohio Department of Veterans Services.
Maj. Gen. Ashenhurst served for 37 years, commanding 17,000 service members of the Ohio National Guard, the Ohio Naval Militia and Ohio Military Reserve. She is no stranger to Westerville, having spoken in the past at Westerville Sunrise Rotary’s Field of Heroes. It is an honor to have her return, sharing stories and wisdom from nearly four decades of service.
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More than any other space in the community, the new Westerville Veterans Memorial is a path to discover and honor the history of our families and that of our neighbors. If not for the men and women who have served our country, we would not live in the Westerville we know and cherish today.
I will be thinking of Freeman and Veronica Irelan’s service, and their son, Robert, my father, who sailed the Mediterranean and Caribbean seas with the Navy in Vietnam. Their eldest son, Edgar, my uncle, earned a Purple Heart in Vietnam.
I will be thinking of Veronica specifically, and the impact she has had on my leadership journey. The woman was a hard worker, becoming a leader in her position until managers found out she was female. She went back to the factory floor, on with her life to have nine children and later, survive cancer. Any grit and determination I possess comes from Veronica Krupar Irelan.
I invite you to join me in honoring and celebrating those in your life who have served our nation this Veterans Day. Find the full program of the Veterans Memorial Dedication Ceremony at westerville.org.
Monica Irelan is the city manager of Westerville.
This article originally appeared on ThisWeek: City Notes: Veterans Memorial dedication inspiring reflections
