Special to 1808Delaware
A year to the day after the 2021 groundbreaking ceremony, the newly constructed Westerville Veterans Memorial, 325 N. Cleveland Ave., opens with a dedication ceremony on Friday, Nov. 11 beginning at 11 AM.
The program will include:
- Posting of the Colors, VFW Color Guard
- National Anthem, WSHS Soundsation
- Principal Speaker, Major General Deborah Ashenhurst
- 21 Volley Salute, American Legion Rifle Squad
- Playing of Taps, Dan Carey, bugle
- Retirement of the Colors, VFW Color Guard w/musical accompaniment
- Tours of the new parks space
The Westerville Veterans Memorial at the Westerville Sports Complex blends history, culture, art and recreation with the existing sports environment at the Westerville Sports Complex to create a new signature space to honor and celebrate those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces.
The new Veterans Memorial is a piece of the Westerville Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces (PROS) master plan. This project renews and replaces an existing, smaller memorial that sits in front of the Armory on South State Street, which once housed a medical infantry unit of the Ohio National Guard.
The new memorial was built upon the existing marker, rising to meet the community’s tradition of honoring the lives and legacies of the men and women who have served or are serving to protect our freedoms. It is in a space well-known by the community, which also hosts the annual Field of Heroes and now 4th of July festivities.
The Field of Heroes attracts crowds in the thousands each Memorial Day weekend, and the new site for fireworks and festivities in July brought out big crowds for expanded entertainment and better visibility.
Source: City of Westerville
