Preliminary plans for the Korean War Memorial and the Miami Township Memorial Garden and Arboretum were revealed and suggestions were sought at a meeting of Korean War Veterans Thursday, Feb. 10.
Bill Knepp, chairman of the committee formed to build the memorial, said the concrete base for the Korean War Memorial will be poured in March if the weather cooperates. The base will support several boulders topped with a monument of black granite detailing the history of the war on one side and a laser etched picture of an outpost on “Old Baldy” hill, a hotly contested hill where many men lost their lives as the signing of the armistice approached.
Surrounding the monument will be 22 rifles bearing empty helmets and the names of the Clermont County men who did not come home from the war. Knepp said there are currently 18 men known to have lived in Clermont and died in Korea. The remaining four rifles will be reserved for additional heroes as research in to the war continues. Knepp said there will also be a special section recognizing the 8,176 Americans who went missing in action during the war, including three from Clermont County.
“One of the biggest injustices in any war we ever fought was the way the missing in action were handled in Korea,” Knepp said.
The monument will be built in Miami Meadows Park on 8.5 acres of land, which includes a pond and is located adjacent to a 200 space parking lot.
In addition to recognizing the sacrifice of veterans of the Korean War, the garden will host memorials to every war enter by the United States since the Revolutionary War. A path has been planned to encircle the pond along with 16 black granite benches which will be dubbed the “Trail of the American Constitution.” Laser inscribed on the benches will be quotes from the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and the amendments. The bases for the benches will also be poured in March.
The war memorials will be placed behind the benches separated by flowering crabapple trees.
Knepp said the committee, whose members include Miami Township residents R.J. Vilardo and Robert E. Sterling, is focused on building a place where people can gather to learn American history and where veterans can come to remember their brothers and sisters in arms in a comfortable setting.
“It’s becoming more than just a block of rock,” Knepp said. “We want a green, living, actual monument all around that lake.”
The lake currently features a temporary fountain but Knepp said that a larger, permanent fountain should be in place in time for a planned July 2 Korean War Veteran picnic and reunion.
Money still being sought for privately funded project
Adding to the natural setting on the eastern side of the pond will be a grove of Buckeye trees donated by Joe Uecker and his family. The donation includes a trust setup for their care. North of the Buckeye grove will be a natural seating area and stage on the side of a hill. Korean lilacs, dogwoods, and birch trees will line the south shore of the pond.
“Think about this project and what it will grow into,” Vilardo said.
Knepp said the committee is looking for any and all ideas for the memorial that local veterans may have.
“We need your ideas, they will be incorporated if we can get the funding,” Knepp said. “We’re gathering ideas and raising funds for the infrastructure.”
The goal of the committee is to build the garden without the use of public funds.
“We’re going to build this with nothing but of the people, by the people, for the people,” Knepp said. “What is different about what we are doing is, unlike other people, we don’t go with a hand out and expect the tax payers to pay for it. We’re not asking for grant money, we’re not asking for anything but public subscriptions.”
Knepp said companies have come forward to donate their services or materials for the project. The Spirit of ’76 monument was donated by Harris Memorials and Maggard Laser Art. DRK construction has donated the concrete base for the Korean War Memorial, and Knepp said the base for the memorial will be installed with $50,000 of in-kind donations and cash.
Knepp said he will charge a fee for his town crier services from now on, which will in turn be donated to the memorial.
All donations are deposited in an account setup through the Miami Glen Performing Arts, which is a 501(3)c organization. Payments are made from the account by the Miami Township Trustees, who maintain control of the land.
Knepp said the committee is working hard to raise funds to complete the project.
“Five dollars means as much to me as $5,000,” Knepp said.
Knepp said the Korean War Memorial will be completed in time for the 60th anniversary of the signing of the 1953 armistice which put an end to open fighting in Korea.
The veterans gathered for the information session said the memorial is a great way to honor the veterans of what has often been called The Forgotten War.
“I think it’s great that we are finally being recognized,” Larry Cadwallder said.
Art Snider said the Korean veterans are known for coining the phrase “freedom isn’t free.”
“This is just great because there are so many deserving people being remembered,” Snider said.