Posted: Friday, November 11, 2011
Deschenes Oval celebrates veterans
Published:
Monday, November 7, 2011
By GRIFFIN T. DALIANIS
I think it is appropriate to tell the story of Deschenes Oval and the Veterans Memorial Walk.
A group of 10 decided that the Deschenes
Oval needed sprucing up. We went through several sets of plans. The
final plan selected was one by Richard Chasse, former fire chief and
decorated World War II veteran.
We were looking for a way to salute as
many veterans individually and decided on bricks with veterans’ names on
them. More than 2,800 individual bricks were placed. Each brick’s
purchase price was $30, allowing for three lines to be embossed on it.
We decided right away there would not be
any military ranks, as we have doctors, lawyers, businesses and others,
and military ranks from private to three-star generals.
The walk also has 10 monuments – one for
each major war – and the last was for the war we hoped not to fight.
That didn’t last long, as we have been fighting wars in Iraq and
Afghanistan.
There are four granite benches purchased
by individuals families. (Nash, Fosse, Buckingham, Dalianis, Katis and
Powers.) We wanted a place where people could sit and remember.
Also included is the Purple Heart Memorial
in the Oval with a flag pole. The memorial is made of black granite
with a replica of the Purple Heart medal.
Also, four members of our community
purchased a monument with a brass plaque. It was for all who died on
9/11 – civilians, firefighters, policemen and military personnel. On the
plaque is a quote from George Bush. (“We will not falter, we will not
fail ...”).
Every day I can go by Deschenes Oval Veterans Memorial Walk and see people looking for a brick or laying a flower.
The city was great to work with on this project, including Mayor Bernie Streeter.
When you drive up and down Library Hill, just look.
God bless our veterans.
.jpg)
