Memorial honors veterans

The memories of soldiers live on in stone. Among honored guests at the dedication ceremony of the Union County Veterans Remembrance Memorial was Mrs. Sue Prince, the mother of Corporal Kevin William Prince. Her son’s name is one of the 797 engraved on the Veterans Monument. Corporal Prince was killed in action in Iraq on April 23, 2005. Kevin grew up in Plain City, Ohio. Overcome with emotion and visibly moved by the standing ovation she received, Mrs. Prince tearfully thanked the crowd on behalf of herself, her family, and her son. Residents and veterans alike crowded around the new home of the Union County Veterans Monument and Plaza – the corner of Fifth and Court streets in Marysville. Visitors to the monument search for the names of family, friends and neighbors engraved on the bricks or use the new computer kiosk to obtain the veterans database and other historical or military information. Some stood in awestruck silence and with teary eyes viewing the mass of names engraved on the monument.
The breathtaking Union County Veterans Monument and Plaza provided a fitting tribute for persons who served in the military from the area.
Nearly five years in the making, the central piece in the Veterans Plaza is a 35,000-pound granite monolith, which bears witness to the 797 Union County veterans who died in the line of duty or were captured as prisoners of war. More than 1,400 engraved brick and granite pavers mark the steps around the stately monument. Each paver is a testament to veterans, families and organizations.
Members of various local scout troops, including 15 Eagle Scouts and 2 Senior Girl Scouts, ushered attendees into community viewing areas along both Fifth and Court Streets
Korean War veteran and Master of Ceremonies, LeRoy Holt, extended a warm welcome to the assembled crowd, then solemnly commanded the Honor Guard members from the American Legion, VFW, DAV, and other veterans to “Post the Colors.”
Local residents participated in the opening ceremonies. Three Blue Star Mothers, along with area school students, led the community in The Pledge of Allegiance, followed by Army veteran, Pastor Ken Daft, who delivered the formal invocation. Nacrina Alvarez de Blanco performed a stirring a cappella rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
U.S. Rep. Deborah Pryce attended and took a moment to congratulate the community on such an incredible accomplishment, and then turned the proceedings over to Major General (Ret.) Oscar C. Decker, Jr., Chairman of the Veterans Remembrance Committee (VRC). General Decker extended his own welcome to those gathered, humbly expressing his genuine appreciation for the countywide outpouring of support for the monument, which represents the contributions of veterans everywhere. Decker also graciously acknowledged the many volunteers who played pivotal roles in bringing the entire project to fruition.
Foremost among the monument’s volunteers is Esther Carmany, who served as Secretary for the VRC. In honor of her phenomenal contributions and her unwavering dedication, General Decker presented her with an American flag that had at one time flown over the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.
Mrs. McAlister exhorted those gathered to truly remember that the monument represents both the wars that have challenged our nation and those who have sacrificed in order to serve in those wars. She forcefully reminded the crowd of a fact that was silently borne out by the monument veiled by a genuine World War II parachute. “Liberty comes at a high price,” said Mrs. McAlister.
Retired Air Force Chaplain, Father Patrick Toner, who also spoke, joked that he felt like the best man at a wedding – pretty, but certainly secondary. Father Toner emphasized the need for remembering who we are and where we come from as individuals, as families, and as a nation. The applause was thunderous and sustained, as veterans and residents alike united absorbed in the emotional impact of the majestic and stately monument.
With the crowd still standing, members of the Millcreek Memorial VFW Post #3320 raised both the American and the POW/MIA flags 35 feet into the air.
The celebration did not end there. From wherever they stood around the Veterans Plaza at that moment, individuals were joined as one by the stately monument in honoring the military men and women of Union County.
If you would like to be among those honoring an individual, a family, or an organization with the purchase of a plaza paver, or if you know of a Union County veteran whose military service information should be entered into the veterans database, simply log onto the veterans website at www.
co.union.oh.us, or call the Union County Foundation at 937-642-9618.
Paver orders received by September 15, 2007, will be installed on the Plaza floor by Veterans Day, November 11, 2007.

Edited by UCP staff.