XENIA, Ohio (Tribune News Service) – A new memorial honoring veterans from across the county arrives at the Greene County Courthouse in Xenia.
The hexagonal-shaped plaza will be built around the existing flagpole on the south lawn of the courthouse at the corner of Main and Detroit streets. Vertical granite monuments will honor members of the six branches of the military: Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force and Coast Guard.
The memorial will honor all citizens of Greene County who served honorably in the armed forces of the United States, whether they served in wartime or peacetime, in the United States or overseas, or whether they’re from a big city or a small town,” said Tim Spradlin, Greene County Veterans Memorial Fund Committee Chairman.
“There is so much more to military service than combat, and we want to honor all of that,” he said.
The memorial took nearly 10 years to prepare, Spradlin said.
“That’s where we always wanted it. At the county seat, and to be a hub for all sorts of other events in the future,” he said.
Greene County commissioners approved the site on Thursday and will spend $25,000 on its construction. The commissioners will also match amounts to planned memorials for veterans at Xenia, Fairborn and Sugarcreek Twp., funded by the county’s American Rescue Plan Act dollars.
“We are going to make this happen,” Commissioner Tom Koogler said. “We’re thrilled about it. It’s another feature of downtown Xenia, and we keep doing more and more things for development and creating a better community.”
“It was a no-brainer,” Commissioner Rick Perales said of approving the committee’s request. “Our military history is very important to us. We look forward to when we’re done and we can start celebrating military events and holidays there. It’s going to be wonderful.”
The project is funded primarily by donations, and early construction estimates are around $500,000. Local contractors, including Dodd’s Memorials of Xenia, will carry out the design and installation work.
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A new memorial honoring veterans from across the county arrives at the Greene County Courthouse in Xenia, Ohio. (Wikimedia Commons)
