City, County Still Unsure About Veterans Memorial
Council says Banks team will have to decide on project
by Jennifer Greenup
QCFMag.com reporter
“We take the service and sacrifice of veterans too much for granted,” said Ferrier. “Veterans spend at least two years away from their family. This is a level of sacrifice that at the very least deserves to be recognized.”
by Jennifer Greenup
QCFMag.com reporter
City Hall--Tri-state veterans will not see a veteran’s memorial built any time soon.
Councilman Chris Bortz said today that the Veterans Memorial Park is in limbo right now.
“It’s something the Banks working group will have to work on,” said Bortz. He then said he did not know enough about the project and its cost to say whether or not he supports the Project. "It’s up to the group to decide.”
Councilman Chris Monzel said that he supported the project but that “there are bigger issues that need to be addressed first. There the matter of location and there is always the question of money.”
For the past 10 years, Ronald Ferrier, founder of the Greater Cincinnati Veterans Memorial Project, has tried unsuccessfully to establish a Veterans Memorial in Cincinnati, the only major mid-western city that does not have a veteran’s memorial to honor those who have served in the armed services.
Earlier this month Ferrier presented Cincinnati City Council with a proposal to build a Veterans Memorial Park on land located behind the Freedom Center in the Banks development, a substitute location to the Fort Washington Way decks area approved in 2000. In 2000, Cincinnati City Council passed a resolution in support of a Veterans Memorial Park on the riverfront.
Councilman Cecil Thomas supports the idea of a veteran’s memorial park next to the Freedom Center.
“I think it is an excellent idea,” said Thomas. “It would hopefully bring people down town and to the Freedom Center.”
However, the ownership and control of the property in question, which is designated a green zone, is not known.
Bortz said that he believes that the Park Board is responsible for maintaining the land but he did not know who owned it.
Ferrier said that the County owns the land but the Freedom Center many have exclusive use of the plot.
The Freedom Center and a Veterans Memorial is a good match,” said Ferrier. “We both share the same mission and values of freedom and could share the land.”
Moreover, the Freedom Center told Ferrier that they do not have the money to develop the land, something that his organization can help with.
“I strongly believe that there is enough regional interest in this project that the money will show up,” said Ferrier.
Councilman Chris Bortz said today that the Veterans Memorial Park is in limbo right now.
“It’s something the Banks working group will have to work on,” said Bortz. He then said he did not know enough about the project and its cost to say whether or not he supports the Project. "It’s up to the group to decide.”
Councilman Chris Monzel said that he supported the project but that “there are bigger issues that need to be addressed first. There the matter of location and there is always the question of money.”
For the past 10 years, Ronald Ferrier, founder of the Greater Cincinnati Veterans Memorial Project, has tried unsuccessfully to establish a Veterans Memorial in Cincinnati, the only major mid-western city that does not have a veteran’s memorial to honor those who have served in the armed services.
Earlier this month Ferrier presented Cincinnati City Council with a proposal to build a Veterans Memorial Park on land located behind the Freedom Center in the Banks development, a substitute location to the Fort Washington Way decks area approved in 2000. In 2000, Cincinnati City Council passed a resolution in support of a Veterans Memorial Park on the riverfront.
Councilman Cecil Thomas supports the idea of a veteran’s memorial park next to the Freedom Center.
“I think it is an excellent idea,” said Thomas. “It would hopefully bring people down town and to the Freedom Center.”
However, the ownership and control of the property in question, which is designated a green zone, is not known.
Bortz said that he believes that the Park Board is responsible for maintaining the land but he did not know who owned it.
Ferrier said that the County owns the land but the Freedom Center many have exclusive use of the plot.
The Freedom Center and a Veterans Memorial is a good match,” said Ferrier. “We both share the same mission and values of freedom and could share the land.”
Moreover, the Freedom Center told Ferrier that they do not have the money to develop the land, something that his organization can help with.
“I strongly believe that there is enough regional interest in this project that the money will show up,” said Ferrier.
The purposed memorial park will have an ample theater and children’s section that the Freedom Center would have full use of. The memorial park will also have a memorial plaza with flags to represent the different branches of the armed services and inscribed paver’s walkways of those from the region who have served in the military.
More than 800,000 individuals from the tri-state region have served in the armed services since World War I. The memorial is meant to honor all those who have served in the armed forces, not just those who have been killed during a war.
More than 800,000 individuals from the tri-state region have served in the armed services since World War I. The memorial is meant to honor all those who have served in the armed forces, not just those who have been killed during a war.
“We take the service and sacrifice of veterans too much for granted,” said Ferrier. “Veterans spend at least two years away from their family. This is a level of sacrifice that at the very least deserves to be recognized.”
Reporter Jennifer Greenup covers the City Hall and local politics.
The feature appears each Thursday exclusively in QCFMag.com.
Contact: jenniferg@queencityforum.com
posted by Queen City Forum Mag @ 8:45 PM
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