MEMORIAL COMMITTEE
NEWSLETTER
Winter 2009
link to previous newsletter
Website: www.lorainvietnamvets98.com
Email: 98reasonswhy@gmail.com
To the Friends and Family of the Vietnam
Veterans Memorial of Lorain County
Please join us as we recognize our Memorial donors &
announce the exciting plans for Phase II of the Memorial.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
VFW Post #1079 ¥ 500 S. Abbe Road ¥ Elyria, Ohio
Doors open at 5:30 (Cash Bar)
Dinner at 6:30
$15 per Dinner. Seating is
Limited.
Phone: Lynn at 440.967.7357 for questions or further information.
Mail checks with RSVP by February 20 to:
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Committee of Lorain County
P.O. Box 258 ¥ Lorain, OH 44052
Plaques and certificates of appreciation will be awarded to our many donors and volunteers at the dinner February 28. We hope you will be able to attend. And, a special thank you to Mary Alyce Woltman, niece of John A. Kocak (one of the 98), for providing the photo which was used on the invitationÕs cover.
Also, as part of the program at the dinner, we are inviting you to say a few words to the donors about what the Memorial means to you and your family. If you would be willing to do that, please contact Joyce at 440.284.9992. We can also read or display any thank you notes .
Special Note to Families
If you would like to attend the donor appreciation dinner but you need some financial assistance, please contact Lynn at 440.967.7357 by February 20.
A New Way to Contact Us
Please use this new email address to contact the committee to receive the electronic version of the newsletter, for paver correspondence, or for any comments or questions: 98reasonswhy@gmail.com
On Saturday, December 13, many people stopped by the Memorial to drop off gently used clothing, blankets, and non-perishable food. All donations were given to Bill Knapp from American Legion Post # 12 in Elyria for distribution to those in need.
A generous donation of $2,500 has been given to the Memorial, with a matching grant. Thank you to Kathy Nord, who gave this in honor of her late brother, Jim Frisina.
Travelers along Rt. 2 can now see the beautiful new Vietnam Veterans Memorial signs at the Oak Point Road/N. Lake St. exit. These road signs were made possible through the generous donation of a local general contractor. They have the Vietnam campaign ribbon and will encourage visitors to exit and come to see the Memorial.
Help Needed With a Project
We believe this could be an excellent project for anyone interested in research and preservation. It would require one who has great attention to detail, and someone who is skilled with spreadsheets or tables or database software:
We have hundreds of engraved pavers, in sections and rows, at the Memorial. Many people come to the Memorial looking for their paver(s) which they purchased and dedicated to veterans, living and dead, along with various dedications to other very special people. Unfortunately, there is no data base of their exact locations and people have trouble finding their pavers. We want to solve that problem for them by creating a map/grid/layout of the site, a spreadsheet, or some record form of what is engraved (key words) on each paver in each row and section. Please email our website should you be able to assist us in this much needed project. Thank you.
Adopt a Flagpole
All flagpoles have now been adopted!! The following individuals and organizations have volunteered to provide flags and to change them when needed. Very special thank you to:
American flag – American Legion Post # 118, Amherst
Ohio flag – The Anderson Family (family of one the 98) of Sheffield Lake
POW/MIA flag - Joe and Linda Horvath of Amherst
Army flag – Walter and June Attie of Amherst
Navy flag – VFW Post #1662, Amherst
Air Force flag – Amvets Post #47, Lorain
Marine flag – The Sam Tolley Family (family of one of the 98) of Colorado
Coast Guard flag – A group of retired Coast Guard personnel
Do you like to sew? The hems of the flags unravel rapidly as the wind whips across the Memorial site. We need a volunteer to do some reinforcement stitching so that the flags last longer. To help, contact Site Chairman Tom Temerario at 440.244.0294
Todd Quinn has volunteered to help with the website. THANKS, Todd!! To enhance our website, if you have photos to share, both recent and past, and the stories to go along with them, please send them to Brenda Snell at 98reasonswhy@gmail.com for posting on the website. Also, the newsletter is posted quarterly on the website. Contact Brenda if you wish to be removed from the mailing list and receive your newsletter electronically.
Be sure to visit the website regularly. It is kept very up to date and there is a lot of interesting and important information there.
The Moving Wall is Coming to Lorain County !!
The VFW Post #1079 in Elyria is hosting The Moving Wall from April 29 – May 5 at their post on S. Abbe Rd. Mark your calendars now for this very important event.
Have You Moved?
You can help save us mailing costs on returns by telling us your new address when you move. Contact Joyce Young at 440.284.9992 with your new address. Thanks!!
Reminder: The committee recently voted to change the monthly meetings from Sundays to the first Thursday of the month. Next Meeting: Thursday, February 5 at 7 PM at the Amherst Police Station. New members are always welcome!!
To Contact Us
President – Don Attie 440.288.7030 or 440.288.1182 (fax)
Secretary – Brenda Snell at 98reasonswhy@gmail.com
Treasurer – Linda Horvath
Fundraising/Public Relations – Don Attie
Site Committee Chairman – Tom Temerario 440.244.0294