Veterans Memorial dedication May 28
The annual Memorial Day Celebration in uptown Hillsboro will take place on the lawn of the Highland County Courthouse and will commemorate the dedication of the new Highland County Veterans Memorial.
Rick Wilkin, of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9094, said there are several speakers and proclamations scheduled to celebrate May 28.
The event will begin at 10 a.m. Wilkin said there will be no parade to the cemeteries this year, so the crowds will stay in the uptown area for the memorial dedication.
"They'll be doing the dedication and then will go right into the service," Wilkin said. "(Highland County resident) Mac McCray will be the memorial speaker, and Tim Espich, the interim director of the Ohio Department of Veterans services, will be the dedication speaker."
The marching band from Hillsboro High School will also play during the service.
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The VFW is bringing in bleachers from the Highland County Fairgrounds, so limited seating will be available. Depending on the size of the crowds in attendance, Wilkin said that some observers may want to bring their own lawn chairs.
Proclamations are scheduled to be read by the Highland County Board of Commissioners and by the city of Hillsboro.
"We are very pleased with the amount of help we've had with this project," Wilkin said. "We've had volunteers step up, and it just goes to show what a good community we've got around here. I can hardly thank these guys enough."
The memorial currently features more than 1,000 bricks with the names of veterans with connections to the Highland County area. Bricks are still available at $50 for a 4x8. Wilkin said that the 4x8 bricks are only in honor of a veteran, but that 8x8 bricks at $150 each can be purchased in the name of any resident or business.
"They're still selling the bricks. Fifty is the least amount that we can install at a time. But since this first lot was set, we've had 100 more orders," Wilkin said.
To purchase bricks, contact Wilkin at 364-2371, or contact the VFW Post at 393-0211.
Highland County Commissioner Tom Horst said that the memorial is something that Highland County residents can truly be proud of.
"I never thought it would get this far," said Horst. "The idea for this popped into my mind during Memorial Day services in 2009. I watched them walk down to place a wreath in front of the memorial (which was then parallel to East Main Street). I thought, 'This is out of place and needs to be where everyone can see it.' This was all possible with donated labor. It amazes me, the way people came out together on this. I think that it is something that people will be able to enjoy for years to come and will be very proud of. It is a perpetual monument that is never going to be finished. We will always be adding someone's name to it. I am really looking forward to Monday for the official dedication."