Fairfield Township dedicates Veterans Memorial with parade and ceremony on Saturday
FAIRFIELD TWP. – With most of the work completed, the Fairfield Township Veterans Memorial will be dedicated Saturday at Heroes Park.
“We started this project to bring the community together and honor all veterans – no matter what conflict they were in or whether they served in peace time or war time,’’ said Fred Valerius, chairman of the Veterans Memorial Committee.
“Those were the things that energized us from the start.”
All but $58,000 of the $392,000 project has been raised, Valerius said. The first two phases of the four-phase project and part of the third have been built.
The memorial features a circular plaza containing a stone and hexagon granite planter with a flagpole as its centerpiece. Five granite monuments – one each for the United States Navy, Marine Corps, Army, Air Force and Coast Guard surround the planter.
Etched into each monument are images from that branch. On the back of those are granite plaques listing the names of service members from the township who were killed or missing in action, Gold Star families, and those who received the Purple Heart.
Granite benches tracing the history of wars and conflicts will line the outside perimeter of the memorial area. Only two of those are finished – and not yet installed.
Two granite monuments at the park’s entrance still need to be finished once funds become available, Valerius said. One will contain the park's name, dedication, and dignitaries; the other will be the entrance to the memorial with the dedication and image honoring gold star families.
“This memorial symbolizes Fairfield Township’s respect toward all veterans – past, present, and future. It’s taken many years and significant effort from many people to make this dream a reality,’’ said Trustee Shannon Hartkemeyer.
“Today and every day in the future, residents and visitors will know that Fairfield Township appreciates the sacrifices that our veterans have made to protect our freedom.”
The dedication begins at 1:30 p.m., at the park, 6116 Morris Road, near its intersection with Millikin Road. Serving as Master of Ceremonies is Adrian Whitsett, WCPO anchor and Marine veteran.
Gold Star parent Adolpho Olivas will make the primary presentation. His son, Nicholas, is being honored on the Center Core Memorial with others who were killed or missing in action. Nicholas Olivas was killed in Afghanistan in 2012.
A small parade begins at Bridgewater Falls shopping center at 1 p.m., travels through the Lakewood subdivision, ending at Fairfield North Elementary School, adjacent to Heroes Park.
There will also be the unveiling of the military service branch and purple heart monuments, flagpoles, flags. The Honor Guard will include members of Liberty Township-based American Legion Post 681 and Fairfield Veterans of Foreign War Post 1069.
Team Fastrax will bring the American flag during a skydive entrance.
Senior Master Sgt. Christin M. Foley, superintendent of the Air Force Band of Flight based at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base will sing. Other performers include Fairfield Senior High School vocalist Kay McCabe and trumpeter Aengus Gillespie.
To donate to the cost of the memorial, send checks made out to Veterans Memorial Fund to: The Fairfield Community Foundation, 5350 Pleasant Ave., Fairfield, OH 45014; or online at www.fairfieldcommunityfoundation.org.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Fairfield Township Veterans Memorial dedication is Saturday
