History and Status as of 07/12/2019
of the Nordonia Hills Veterans Memorial Park Foundation
2020
The Foundation for the Park would not only like to take this opportunity to update the Nordonia Hills community as to what has been accomplished in the Park this year but to thank those whose generosity made it possible.
Three conflict monuments were placed.
The Korean War Monument;
The World War 2 European–African–Middle Eastern Theater Monument donated by the residents of Sagamore Hills; and
The World War 2 Asiatic–Pacific Theater Monument donated by James and Kathryn Krasnicki
Killed-in-Action bricks of those known residents that died in combat were laid around a granite battlecross. It is surrounded by a restored wrought iron fence from the Northfield Macedonia Cemetery.
Cement Masons Local #404 and Barry DiJulius, an instructor for the Local, have completed the Pathway of Freedom and the platforms for the conflict monuments. HGE Concrete Supply in Walton Hills generously donated the concrete used.
Two picnic tables have been donated this year: one from Robert & JoAnne Zarle and one anonymously.
The beautiful lawn was achieved by Hydroseeding Contractors.
French drains were installed to keep the Park from being a pond during the rainy season. The Park sidewalks and grounds were graded to meet ADA requirements.
2019
On February 28, 2019, the formation of the Foundation was completed. The assets that were held by American Legion Post 801 for the project were transferred as follows: the cash in the checking account was moved to the NHVMP account established at the bank, and all purchased and donated assets were transferred to the City of Macedonia.
On April 15th the Foundation applied for a 501(c)(3). The Foundation received the IRS designation on June 28 2019 retroactive to November 5, 2018 (Our incorporation date when we transitioned from an American Legion run project to an official nonprofit foundation).
2018
In 2018, November 11th being the 100th anniversary of the World War 1 Armistice was the next monument placed. Because of lack of funds and time this was done with the understanding that it would be moved to its proper place once funds became available to install the Korean and World War 2 conflict monuments.
In the fall of 2018, the Committee determined that, as the Park would take several years to complete, a separate identity from American Legion Post 801 and the VFW Post 6768 was needed. On November 5, 2018 the State of Ohio officially recognized the Nordonia Hills Veterans Memorial Park Foundation to be managed by a Board of Trustees comprised mostly of veterans would oversee the completion of the Park.
2017
Phase One consisting of the Memorial flanked by granite benches donated by the American Legion Post 801 and the VFW Post 6768, the Main Archway, the War on Terror and the Vietnam War Monuments each faced by a donated bench, three flagpoles bearing the American flag, the KIA/WIA flag and the POW/MIA flag, and the inscribed pavers donated to date was completed in late August 2017. A dedication ceremony was held on September 16, 2017 to celebrate the completion of this phase which can now be viewed by satellite from outer space.
2016
In 2016 then Mayor Joseph Migliorini suggested that it should not stop at a Memorial but that the entire Park, which had been neglected, should be refurbished to properly honor veterans. With that, at the request of Post 801, the Advisory Planning Committee was expanded by asking the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6768 to participate in the project. Dave Pristash, Post 801 commander, was placed in charge of the project.
The plans for the Park went through several design changes before being finalized. In addition to the main Memorial there will now be a total of 11 monuments placed in the Park to represent the major conflicts that the United States military were involved in since the American War for Independence. The focus for each will be on what the combatants endured and the “innovations that were established by the U.S. military in a conflict.
In addition, the Park from the grounds to the picnic tables is to be handicapped accessible.
2015
In January 2015, Mr. Carl Quesenberry of American Legion Nordonia Hills Post 801 presented to the Post a request that a memorial to honor veterans be erected in the Nordonia Hills community. The Post agreed to take on the project.
Mr. Tom O’Brien, chaplain for the Post and active in the City of Macedonia, lobbied Mayor Don Kuchta to permit the Memorial to be erected in the Veterans Park that was donated in 1928 by Colonel E. C. Peck. Mayor Kuchta and the City Council enthusiastically agreed, renamed the park to Veterans Memorial Park dedicated to all veterans, and requested that a Veterans Advisory Committee be formed to guide the project. Several Post 801 members agreed to form the committee.
Because of the nature of the project work can only be done from late spring through early fall. Under the Updates tab is a list of a few of the things that have been accomplished and what remains to be done.
Following is a list of the conflict monuments that over time will be placed in the Park.
- War on Terror – completed
September 11, 2001 to Present
Historical and 3 campaigns
- Vietnam War – completed
March 1965 – April 1975
Killed-in-Action: 58,148
Wounded: 303,704
- Korean War – design out for review
June 25, 1950 – July 27, 1953
U.S. Service Members: 1,789,000
Killed-In-Action: 33,739
Wounded: 103,284
4. & 5.) World War II – 2 Monuments
- Numbers: Human Toll and effort
U.S. Service Members: 16,571,659
Battle Deaths: 301,308
Other Deaths in Service (Non-Theater): 115,185
Non-Mortal Wounded: 683,846
- Timeline: December 7, 1945 – September 2d, 1945
6.) World War I – completed
U.S. declares War: April 6, 1915
Fighting ends November 11, 1918
U.S. Service Members: 4,734,991
Battle Deaths: 53,402
Other Deaths in Service (Non-Theater): 63,114
Non-Mortal Wounded: 204,004
7.) Spanish-American War and Philippine-American War
Both wars should be considered as one.
Spanish-American War
April 25, 1898 – December 10, 1898
U.S. Service Members: 72.339
Battle Deaths: 297
Other Deaths (in Theater): 2,061
Non-Mortal Wounded: 1,645
Philippine-American War
February 4, 1899 through July 2, 1902
U.S. Service Members: 24,000-44,000
Battle Deaths: 4,234 – 6,165
Other Deaths (in Theater): 2,061
Non-Mortal Wounded: 2,818
8.) Civil War
April 12, 1861 – April 4, 1865
Total Union Service Members: 2,213,363
Union Battle Deaths: 140,414
Union Other Deaths (in Theater): 224,097
Union Non-Mortal Wounded: 281,881
Total Confederate Service Members: 1,050,000
Confederate Battle Deaths: 74,524
Confederate Other Deaths (in Theater): 59,297
Confederate Non-Mortal Wounded: Unknown
9.) Mexican-American War
April 25, 1846 -February 1, 1848
U.S. Service Members: 78,718
Battle Deaths: 1,733
Other Deaths (in Theater): 11,550
Non-Mortal Wounded: 4,152
10.) War of 1812
June 1812 – February 1815
U.S. Service Members: 286,730
Battle Deaths: 2,260
Non-Mortal Wounded: 4,505
11.) American War for Independence
April 18, 1775 – September 3, 1783
U.S. Service Members: 217,000
Battle Deaths: 4,435
Non-Moral Wounded: 6,188
Click image to enlarge
