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/Vets Park/Phasededicated todayBy GEORGE L. MYLANPER_After several years of searching, and at times accompanied by controversy, the Erie County “Vets Park” came home to its present location in1986.On August 18th of that year the Sandusky City Commission passed Resolution 03286R designating this area Erie County Veterans Memorial Park and work began immediately on the memorial, a semicircular monument and plaza, that was dedicated on Veterans Day.Inscribed upon a plaque were the words, “Dedicated to those men and women of this country who served our country in times of peace and war and especially to those who gave their lives in that service.”Not content with this beginning the committee set upon the task of gathering the names of the men of Erie County who lost their lives in the six wars since the founding of the county. Phase II, a pentagonal monument upon which are inscribed the names of 368 individuals, was dedicated on May 29, 1988. Barely a day goes by when this monument is not visited by someone to view the name of a lovedone or others who in silence contemplate the sacrifices of so many who gave of themselves so that we might have the freedoms we enjoy in this great country.Today, May 27, 1990, we mark the completion of Phase III. Close cooperation between the city of Sandusky and the Park Committee has resulted in the relocation and needed reconstruction of the Spanish-American War Memorial and Foundation to Veterans Park. This memorial (then called Lily Pool) was dedicated on June 12, 1932, by the Santa Clara Auxiliary in honor of Erie County’s 250 veterans of the war. Until recently this memorial stood in Washington Park, just in front of what is now Adams Junior High School.The beautiful sculpture within the fountain is a memorial in honor of J. Richard and Verna W. Dorn and is a gift of the Paul Pheiffer family. This was dedicated on June 8, 1980.The city administration approached thecommittee in early 1989 and plans began to not only move the memorial but other war related items in Washington Park to Veterans Park.Only with generous in-kind service of the city and through the efforts of such people as City Manager Frank Link, CityEngineer Paul Fogle, Draftsman Brent Smith, Forestry and Parks Superintendents Ronald VanZandt and Thomas Ott along with their staffs, has all this been possible.Throughout the past four years committee member John Feick, of Feick Contractors, has given of his time and architectural talents to the park’s programs. We are most grateful.We are also appreciative of the contributions to the Park by more than 200 individuals and organizations. These gifts amount to more than $50,000 and range from nickles and dimes from school children to thousands of dollars from local veterans groups and others who wish to be known simply as “friends of those who gave their lives.”Mylander is a Sandusky city commissioner and a member of the “Vets Park” committee. He wrote the above historical perspective for the dedication of the Erie County Veterans Memorial Park Phase III which will take place at 2 p.m. today. (A capsule containing information, programs and articles about the park, including some salvaged from 1932, will be buried in Veterans Park in the near future.)
Newspaper Details
Sandusky Sunday Register
Sandusky, Ohio, US
Sun, May 27, 1990
Page 4
Full Page
Clipped by
Sandusky P.
OH, USA 10 Nov 2021
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