SMITHFIELD - Washington, D.C., has the very solemn Vietnam Wall for those who served during that time in history. Now if organizers have their way, the Fort Friendship Veterans Museum in Smithfield will be the site of a local memorial.
The basic ideas and plans for the wall were hashed out by members of the Jefferson County Veterans Association, a gathering of veterans from throughout the county and spreading into Harrison County.
Brothers, Paul and Charles Greene, put their ideas on paper for the wall that is to be formed in three sections, a taller one in the middle with lower walls on each side.
Taking their plans to the Jefferson County Joint Vocational School, the art students put it into a better concept form. The plans then were taken to James Brannagan, county engineer, who redesigned the actual drawings.
Walter "Wally" Jancura, trustee, came up with the proper sequence for the written characters on the bricks, and Ed Waldman, trustee, and Jay Kolenc, sergeant at arms, selected the location for the wall so it could keep expanding as more names were added over the years. Charles Greene, assistant finance officer, and William "Bill" Smythe, commander, came up with the dual levels for the wall.
John Russell Construction has been hired by the Jefferson County commissioners to construct the basic wall structure.
Project officials now are selling bricks to honor a veterans, living or deceased.
"We are doing really well on the brick sales but we need about 100 before we can start adding them to the wall," Smythe said.
Each paver brick can have three printed lines, with the name on the first line, branch of service on the second and the campaign on the third line, such as Korean or Vietnam wars. There are 15 spaces per line, with each letter and blank consisting of one space. Those with long names should use an initial for the first name, officials noted. It should be signified if the honoree was a prisoner of war, missing in action or killed in action, it also was noted.
The cost is $50 and can be sent to the JCVA, in care of Tony Phillippi, 1341 County Road 15, Rayland, OH 43943.
The next phase will be the engraved granite or marble stone on the front that will signify a tribute to all veterans who honorable served up to this point in time, according to Smythe.
"All members came together and we hashed this thing out. It is not about us, it is to honor the many veterans," Paul Greene, trustee, said.
Each veteran gave a few ideas of what has been happening since the group was formed, back at a time when Eugene Omaits, Fred McGee and Ed Waldman came back from Washington, D.C., with the dream of a museum firm in their minds. This was to show the public, many who had not been in a war, what types of vehicles and equipment were used during World War II and Korean wars.
"With little money in the county to do the work, members of the Jefferson County Veterans Association went out and begged and borrowed to get it started," Jancura said.
It got its start in 1995 when a tank, howitzer, and other pieces of equipment were brought to the parcel of land inside the park designated as the veterans museum by Omaits, it was noted.
"It was Paul Greene's idea for a prayer garden on land near the picnic and playground area, and Kolenc's for the pavilion," Smythe said.
Joe Hickle, who was the first leader on the Friendship Park board, designated the area for the museum in the park. This was after Consol Coal donated the strip-mined land to the commissioners, it was noted.
Fred Straus, the original vice president for the organization, purchased the 15-by-20-foot United States flag that waves on the flag pole constructed by Dundee Panepucci. The pole is 60-feet tall. Art Panepucci was part of the original veterans association and played a big part, too.
The Choogi Trail - a walking trail in the Korean language - was done in the late 1990s. Omaits, Kolenc, Gene Parsons and Domenick Topazio were instrumental in getting the walking trail of about 3 miles around the lake in place.
"We had to do lots of wood cutting to get the trail formed. And then we ended with the covered bridge down by the park entrance," Smith said.
Then came the inspiration for the memorial wall. "We all just took the ball and ran with it. The guys did a tremendous job with the plans," Paul Greene said.
"Steve Vukelic is to be commended for digging the footer for the wall at no cost. And the commissioners have been a great help. We are proud to have worked with them," Smythe said.
"When the wall is completed, it will extend into a half circle, while presently it is three sections on an angle. The commissioners are in favor of all we are doing on the wall," Smythe said. "It will be in steps, with the wings lower and the additional walls may step down, too. By law, it cannot be higher than 4 feet 11 inches in height," Smythe said.
"The wall will include one family of four veterans from three wars," Kolenc said. "There was my grandfather, John, from World War I; my dad, Donald E. from World War II; myself in the Korean War; and a younger brother, Charles, who was in the Korean War as well. He was a member of the county veterans but died on Dec. 16," he said.
Lighting and a walkway, plus pillars to keep any vehicle from getting out of control and hitting the wall will be the last steps taken.
Other members of the association who have had a part in the wall planning are Frank Santa, vice commander; Jack Campbell, chaplain; Lamont McCoy, adjutant; Tony Phillippi, finance officer; and Don Richards, trustee. Charles Strizak, district 10 commander, is a member of the group as well.
