×

Veterans park gets boost from Weirton

WEIRTON Veterans Day has come and gone, but the city of Weirton believes American servicemen and women should be honored every day.

With that hope in mind, the city donated $2,500 for maintenance of the Brooke-Hancock County Veterans Memorial Park on Friday.

Mayor Kondik extended a special thanks to Ward 4 Councilman George Ash Sr.

“He’s been a real force for keeping citizens aware of our armed forces,” Kondik said.

“We need to make sure we have a place to honor the memories of veterans of the past, present and future,” said Ash, who served two tours in Vietnam. “Often when I come here I think of the guys who didn’t make it back, and I get a little emotional.”

The city recently replaced 34 broken commemorative bricks with the names of area veterans, and they are working with the 336 Engineer Army Reserve Company to replace broken concrete slabs and install a drainage system next spring.

“This council has supported the park since its inception,” Ash said.

Ward 1 Councilman Ronnie D. Jones has contributed personal funds to the park and has a vision for its future. He has opened up conversations with state Sens. Jack Yost and Rocky Fitzsimmons, D-Wellsburg and D-Wheeling, respectively, with the goal of eventually building a bathroom and enclosing the pavilion.

The park was acquired by Weirton in 1998 from the state of West Virginia on a lease. Some of the features there include a Marine helicopter, a plane flown in Vietnam and pieces of beams from the World Trade Center to commemorate the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. The site also boasts a tank assembled during World War II that was never used. It is the only tank from the time built in part by the British and Americans.

“This is one of those hidden-in-plain-sight crown jewels the city has,” Ward 6 Councilman David Dalrymple said. “I’d like to see more people come here to enjoy it.”

The park is open to the public every day of the week and is available for any veterans’ organizations or city administrators who want to use it.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $4.73/week.

Subscribe Today