 POW/MIA
Reflection Pond & Eternal Flame Dedication
November 13,
2010
On November 13,
2010 the Ohio Veterans' Memorial Park dedicated the POW
/ MIA Reflection Pond and lit the Eternal Flame. We were
joined by many special friends and guests for the
ceremony. Three of these special friends were
former prisoners of war Clifford Birdshall, Hank
Skowronski and Ralph Knerem.
Although the pond
was dedicated and the flame lit we still need to place
the eight foot tall by fifty foot long black granite
back wall. If you would like to help us with finishing
the pond wall, please click
here to donate.
We had two very
special donations during this service.
 Friends
& Family Of The Wadsworth 13.
The friends and
family of the Wadsworth 13
donated over $ 3,000.00 towards the purchase of the pond
wall. In addition to this wonderful donation, they
purchased a bench and had a lunch catered for the staff
at the park. They also assisted us in manning the booth
(doing the majority of the work) at the Blue Tip
Festival in Wadsworth this past summer. We have a great
group of friends in Wadsworth.
We very much look
forward to seeing you all again at the park this year.
 Rolling
Thunder Chapter 8
Rolling Thunder not
only attends nearly every service at The Ohio Veterans'
Memorial Park and have their own monument at the park,
but they also donated this beautiful POW / MIA seal.
This seal will be
permanently attached to the black granite pond wall
directly above the POW / MIA monument once the wall is
in place.
Thank you Rolling
Thunder for your support and for your service to our
veterans!
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Presentation |
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Our
very special thanks to: |
- Introduction to
the Master of Ceremonies by HM2 Lisa
Mack US Navy
- Master of
Ceremonies – CDR Peter Russo
- Opening Prayer
– Dale Gharky
- Flag raising -
Vietnam Veterans of America #717
- National Anthem
by Michele McQuillen
- Welcoming
remarks by Peter Russo
- Speakers:
- POW WWII
Clifford Birdshell
- POW WWII
Hank Skowronski
- POW Vietnam
Ralph Kneren
- Singer James E.
Terry POW/MIA song
- Singer Michele
McQuillen America the Beautiful
- Speakers:
- State
Representative Todd McKenney
District 43
-
Congresswoman 13th District Betty
Sutton
- Check
Presentation by Friends and Family of
Wadsworth 13
- Dedication of
POW/MIA Plaque by Rolling Thunder
Chapter 8
- Laying of the
Wreaths - Vietnam Veterans of America
#717
- Lighting of the
Eternal Flame
- Honoring
Clinton Cemetery by Frank Sasz,
President OVMP Board
- 21 Gun Salute
by Strongsville VFW Post 3345
- Taps performed
by Strongsville VFW Post 3345
- Benediction by
Dale Gharky
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- Larry Props for
all the concrete work
- Dan
Czartoszewski for helping layout the
Pond
- Friends and
Family of the Wadsworth 13
- Singer Michele
McQuillen of Cuyahoga Falls 13
- Rolling Thunder
Capter 8
- Strongsville
VFW Post 3345
- Singer James E.
Terry POW/MIA Song
- POW Clifford
Birdshall
- POW Hank
Skowronski
- POW Ralph
Knerem
- Vietnam
Veterans of America #717
- CDR Peter Russo
- MAPS Air Museum
- Ohio Beauty Cut
Stone
- Congresswoman
13th District - Betty Sutton
- Dale Gherky
United Methodist Church Clinton, Ohio
- The Clinton
Cemetery Board
- Naval-Marine
Corps Akron, Honor Guard
- State
Representative – Todd McKenney District
43
- Flyover by MAPS
Air Museum
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Photos courtesy of Dan Draiss
and Kim Simpson
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