Flyover, Bell Unveiling, Military Brass Mark Ceremony
by David Miller
DEERFIELD TOWNSHIP, OHIO — The Deerfield Honors Veterans Park was dedicated on Sunday, November 8.. About 500 people gathered for the ceremony hosted by WKRC personality Cammy Dierking. The dedication paid tribute to all branches of the armed forces, and the Committee unveiled the bell cast by the Verdin Company. The bell rang 56 times for local fallen soldiers and many family members stood in silence to listen to the bell tool for the first time in pubic for their loved ones.
The memorial is in the township's 53-acre Cottell Park at Snider and Irwin-Simpson Road. The park also has a 2-1/2 acre fishing pond, shelters, playground, ball fields, sand volleyball court, and banquet facility at the Snyder House.
The memorial, billed by the Township as a “lasting tribute to past, present and future service men and women” was the culmination of over seven years of volunteer planning, fund raising and development work.
At the entrance is a monument engraved with the words, “Let us never forget our POW/MIA Fallen Heroes and Veterans.” Engraved brick pavers are among the brick sidewalks that leads to a 12 foot bronze statue of a soldier standing atop a pile of stones, and the bell tower that contains the Verdin bell and electronic carillon. The carillon played patriotic music to end the formal ceremonies.
