Honoring our own veterans gets officially etched in stone
Saturday fittingly was also Armed Forces Day. It marked the official unveiling and ceremony at the Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery for the Tuscarawas County Veterans Memorial Stone and the unveiling of a memorial bench at the Ohio Veterans' Memorial Park. It was a day set aside to honor the county's deceased veterans who are interred at the Rittman cemetery, honor the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Vietnam War and pay tribute to all veterans.
Leading up to dedication Saturday
Prior to Saturday, there was no memorial stone to honor the men and women of Tuscarawas County who are interred at the Rittman cemetery. Now, a black-mist granite memorial marker made by Dover Memorials honors Tuscarawas County veterans. It has a hand-etched American flag, military emblems, and the slogan, "We proudly stand for those who no longer can."
Established in 2000, the Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery is only the second national cemetery in Ohio and the 119th in the U.S. At full capacity, the cemetery will provide burial space for more than 100,000 eligible veterans and their dependents. The cemetery currently has 65 of the 273 acres developed. There are two or three Tuscarawas County veterans buried there each month. But these heroes were not represented with any monument or marker from the county—until now.
In July 2010, members of veterans groups throughout the county formed an independent committee, the Tuscarawas County Veterans Memorial Stone Committee, and set in motion a series of events that led up to Saturday's dedication. The fundraising efforts and generosity of individuals, companies, and other organizations in the county, exceeded the original goal of $10,000 for the stone. The group had enough money to purchase a bench for the Ohio Veterans' Memorial Park, in Clinton, to honor all Tuscarawas veterans.
"The community support was just absolutely wonderful," said Debbie Cook, director of the Tuscarawas County Veterans Office. "We couldn't have done it without them. I feel this is the first time that we've had all the service organizations work together on one project."
While she added that many neighboring groups joined forces, this was the first countywide effort.
Members of several American Legions, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Vietnam Veterans of America and the Marine Corp League were represented. There were also private citizens, service organizations and business professionals who spearheaded the effort to make the dedication possible.
En route to Rittman
A culmination of the work was evident on Saturday as four packed coach buses traveled north to Rittman. As sheriff deputies and local police officers stopped traffic for the caravan, it made its way through the county led by members of the Patriot Riders and Tuscarawas County Harley Road Crew. With motorcycles decked out with American flags, the procession paid tribute to veterans from all wars. Along the way, motorists stopped to honor the procession and even residents mowing their lawns stopped to watch the motorcycles and buses pass.
As the procession entered the Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery, there was a crowd of people, who drove separately, waiting. In total, an estimated 350 people attended the dedication ceremony.
Dedicating a monument
As more chairs were added to the brick paved area surrounding the main flagpole the ceremony began. The ceremony included members of veterans' groups throughout Tuscarawas County. From men in the Color Guard to the program's speakers, the event was well represented by all service organizations. Joining the Color Guard were members of the motorcycle caravan who held flags during the ceremony. In addition, community members and veterans' family members gathered for the event. All In Quartet also performed various musical selections.
According to Gilbert Cody, director of the cemetery, this was one, if not the largest dedication services to take place at the Rittman facility. He indicated that many times a few people gather for a ceremony, but the outpouring of Tuscarawas County residents was gratifying for him and for those veterans who were being honored.
"We attempt to provide a national shrine to these veterans interred here. Your stone is the 122nd in the walkway, which is more than any other national cemetery," Cody stated.
After the dedication service, the Color Guard marched back to the Memorial Walkway, where the black granite stone is located. Many people chose to walk along the pristinely cut lawn, passing by hundreds of white tombstones en route to the walkway. It was a solemn walk for most but the anticipation for the stone's unveiling was evident.
As hundreds squeezed on the walkway, the black granite stone was covered with a white cloth. After master of ceremonies Jeff Schrock, a member of the Homer Weiss American Legion 494 of Sugarcreek, New Philadelphia AMVETS and a member of the Tuscarawas County Veterans Memorial Stone Committee, said a few words, Rodney Tomblin and Donald Shreiner removed the cloth, revealing the stone.
Linus Kilcheman placed a memorial wreath beside the stone and saluted, paying tribute to all county veterans.
As the cameras began snapping photographs of the stone and people posed by the granite masterpiece, some veterans paused for a moment to soak it all in. Yes, in fact the stone had actually made it to Rittman and the hope that a stone would be there for Tuscarawas County vets was now a reality.
Dean Feller, a member of the stone committee, was moved by the events of the day. "I didn't think I'd get to see this. But I did. It's a hard day for me but a good one," he remarked.
Feller's late wife was instrumental in persuading him to make the memorial stone a reality. Feller said he knew she was with him in spirit.
On the way to Clinton
After a boxed lunch was served on the bus, the caravan made its way across the winding county roads to Clinton and the Ohio Veterans' Memorial Park.
The park is the home of The Ohio Vietnam Veterans' Memorial Wall, a 125-foot-long black granite wall engraved with more than 3,000 names of the men and one woman who perished during the Vietnam War. The well-manicured park is dedicated to honoring Ohio veterans from all wars and even peacetime.
Park bench dedication
As the Color Guard stood along The Wall, the ceremony got underway. Hundreds of people packed into the area, and many were left to stand for the event. After Richard Welling and Larry Watts unveiled the black granite bench, Frank Sasz, president of the memorial park, thanked the group for presenting the granite bench. Under the command of Denny Ross, a 21-gun salute, just like the one earlier at Rittman, was fired. As the rifle volley echoed, Robert Hathorn played Taps.
In addition to The Wall, a Gold Star Mother, a seven-foot-tall granite statue, gazes down at the etched names on The Wall while holding a folded American flag. The granite statue pays tribute to the mothers who lost a child during a war. Behind The Wall a POW/MIA Reflection Pond with an eternal flame offers a serene setting.
A day of dedications
As the buses and motorcycles made their way south to Tuscarawas County, it was evident that residents of Tuscarawas County are proud of their veterans. From the outpouring of support in donations to the representation of service organizations, and even those who traveled north for the dedications, patriotism is still alive.
"The county supports veterans' projects and always has," added Schrock. "We should all be proud of this day. It is a great day for our veterans."
During the Rittman ceremony, Rev. Jim Mason best summed up the feelings of all those in attendance during the benediction: "The war is over for them, but for the survivors, it goes on. And we ask you to pray for them."
Published: May 23, 2011
