Veteran memorial to be dedicated

NEW WASHINGTON --- A dedication ceremony for the New Washington Veterans Memorial Park, 102 W. Mansfield St., is scheduled this Saturday. The ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. and will include remarks from Mayor Ben Lash and Ohio State Representative Riordan McClain (R-Upper Sandusky). New Washington Town and Buckeye Central High School bands will perform. A rain date has been set for 10 a.m. Sunday, May 12. The concept of a veteran's park in New Washington began in 2022 by the village's American Legion – Post 405. "The goal was to create a park that honored local Veterans, reminded the community of the cost of freedom and taught future generations about the sacrifices made on their behalf," said Committee Chair Dave Riedel. Village council provided the vacant lot beside the library as the location of the memorial while Crawford Partnership provided planning support and the Community Foundation for Crawford County provided a method for donations to the project through its Projects, Inc. Fund. Riedel was described as a leading force behind the project by Jerome Heydinger committee co-chair. Riedel grew up in New Washington and later joined the U.S. Marine Corps where he began his career. He then worked at the Pentagon until retiring in 2019 and returning home to New Washington. "The project has definitely had a few challenges, like managing the rising cost of materials and not being able to control the weather," Riedel said in a press release. "But those small struggles are nothing compared to the overwhelming support we've had from the New Washington area community." Donors from across the country, local organizations, grants and corporate donations all assisted in raising funds for the $330,000 project. After the funds were raised, the first phase of the project was completed near the end of 2022. This phase was the painting of a mural by Dean Davis, a muralist based out of Whitehouse, on the library wall, which serves as a backdrop of the park. The second phase involved landscaping, the installation of benches, memorials, flagpoles, fencing and resurfacing of the rear lot. To donate to the New Washington Veterans Memorial Park fund by check, make a check out to Projects, Inc. with New Washington Veterans Memorial Park fund in the memo line. Mail checks to Community Foundation for Crawford County, 254 E. Mansfield Street, Bucyrus, 44820. To donate online, visit Community Foundation for Crawford County's website at cfcrawford.org under the Projects, Inc. tab, select the New Washington Veterans Memorial Park.