Commissioners, VFW work to raise funds for new veterans memorial
Lead Summary
By
Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com
They have sacrificed their time, their safety and, in some cases, their lives all in the name of defending their country.
For the men and women of Highland County who have served in the military, honoring their achievement and their sacrifice is an important mission for area veterans, and elected officials.
The Highland County Board of Commissioners and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9094 are working to see there is a local memorial fitting to the achievements of area service men and women. The current memorial will be moved from its current location on the lawn outside the Highland County Courthouse to a spot on the property where it will be more visible.
"I started working on this right after I got elected," said Commissioner Tom Horst. "I started talking to the area veterans groups, and the VFW was interested. (Fellow commissioners) Shane (Wilkin), Gary (Heaton) and I gave permission a few weeks ago to relocate the current memorial."
Horst said the project will cost approximately $75,000 in total, and they hope to raise enough funds to begin construction within the next year.
"There are numerous monuments at the courthouse," Horst said. "We have plaques commemorating the Civil War and the Revolutionary War, and then of course the large memorial on the south side of the courthouse. To me, I have always felt that memorial was out of place. I think it wold be a great tribute to our veterans if it were moved to a place where when people first drive into town, it's the first thing they see when they drive into the center of Hillsboro."
The memorial will remain on the courthouse lawn, he said, but will be moved to a different area. Rough sketches and a model have been constructed, based on a design from Horst. The next step in the process is to have an architect come up with scale drawings and models, he said.
Currently, the VFW is taking orders for 4x8 brick pavers that will be incorporated into the memorial. Each brick is $50, and it is open to all members who served their country in war or in peace, foreign or domestic, and those currently serving their country and veterans organizations. The paver can contain up to three lines, with 20 characters per line.
To purchase a brick, contact the Highland County Veterans Memorial, VFW Post building, 1000 West Main St., Hillsboro, Ohio, 45133, or call the commissioners office at 393-1911.
They have sacrificed their time, their safety and, in some cases, their lives all in the name of defending their country.
For the men and women of Highland County who have served in the military, honoring their achievement and their sacrifice is an important mission for area veterans, and elected officials.
The Highland County Board of Commissioners and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9094 are working to see there is a local memorial fitting to the achievements of area service men and women. The current memorial will be moved from its current location on the lawn outside the Highland County Courthouse to a spot on the property where it will be more visible.
"I started working on this right after I got elected," said Commissioner Tom Horst. "I started talking to the area veterans groups, and the VFW was interested. (Fellow commissioners) Shane (Wilkin), Gary (Heaton) and I gave permission a few weeks ago to relocate the current memorial."
Horst said the project will cost approximately $75,000 in total, and they hope to raise enough funds to begin construction within the next year.
"There are numerous monuments at the courthouse," Horst said. "We have plaques commemorating the Civil War and the Revolutionary War, and then of course the large memorial on the south side of the courthouse. To me, I have always felt that memorial was out of place. I think it wold be a great tribute to our veterans if it were moved to a place where when people first drive into town, it's the first thing they see when they drive into the center of Hillsboro."
The memorial will remain on the courthouse lawn, he said, but will be moved to a different area. Rough sketches and a model have been constructed, based on a design from Horst. The next step in the process is to have an architect come up with scale drawings and models, he said.
Currently, the VFW is taking orders for 4x8 brick pavers that will be incorporated into the memorial. Each brick is $50, and it is open to all members who served their country in war or in peace, foreign or domestic, and those currently serving their country and veterans organizations. The paver can contain up to three lines, with 20 characters per line.
To purchase a brick, contact the Highland County Veterans Memorial, VFW Post building, 1000 West Main St., Hillsboro, Ohio, 45133, or call the commissioners office at 393-1911.