Land on which a lone cannon from World War I, once stood as a silent sentinel to those in service to America, continues to be transformed into a picturesque memorial honoring veterans from the Nordonia Hills area.
The park, resplendent with double-sided granite monuments, honoring veterans from America’s Revolution through The War on Terror, remains open to the public as the restroom is under construction.
The work is being overseen by the Nordonia Hills Veterans Memorial Park Foundation, a 501(c)(3).
Crews are in the process of digging trenches for utilities for the restroom and water lines for the sprinkler system, according to Dan Davis, foundation vice president and construction coordinator.
The restroom’s foundation has already been laid and the first row of blocks are in, Davis said.
Depending on the weather, the concrete floor will soon be poured, and block laid for the restroom building.
“When the floor is done, the bricklayer will start laying up the walls,” Davis said. “That’s going to take him quite a bit of time. Once the floor is in, everything else is a go.”
The park has been totally rebuilt and is the home to granite monuments which recognize veterans from every war the United States has been involved in, according to Davis, who served with the 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam.
Davis stressed that while the park is in Macedonia, it’s not just for Macedonia veterans.
“This is for the whole area,” Davis said. “This is the Nordonia Hills Veterans Memorial Park.”
While the park was created to honor those who served in uniform, the park is unique compared to other veterans’ memorial parks.
“What we were trying to do was have a different twist,” according to Dave Pristash, foundation president. “We weren’t interested in the generals and the bigwigs. We wanted to concentrate on the individual people who actually did the fighting and everyone who served. I don’t think you’ll find that too much any place else.”
Pristash, a Purple Heart recipient, served with the Special Forces in Vietnam and was wounded in combat actions.
“If I wasn’t really excited to do this, I would not have put thousands of hours and dollars into it,” Pristash said of the memorial park.
The park is also a tribute to friends Pristash served with in Vietnam.
“I have seven names in the [Vietnam] Wall of guys I served with,” Pristash added.
The park sits on just about an acre of land donated to Macedonia by Colonel Eugene C. Peck, who served in World War I. The land was donated with the provision it would always remain a veteran’s park.
“We have taken that dream and enhanced upon it,” Davis added.
The original plaque near the rebuilt and repainted cannon reads the park was dedicated to “Macedonia veterans of The World War.”
“Remember we didn’t expect to have a Second World War,” Davis said. “So, at that time it was called the World War.”
The park also houses a gazebo, originally built in 1928. The gazebo also has been rebuilt over the years.
The project began in 2015 as an American Legion Nordonia Hills Post 801 project, according to Krasnicki, who is post commander. Only the gazebo remained from the original park. The cannon had been placed in storage during the widening of State Route 82.
“It’s completely new from what it was,” according to Krasnicki, a recipient of the Bronze Star for combat actions, in Vietnam. Krasnicki served with the U.S. Army Transportation Corps.
However, before the monuments could even be built, several truckloads of dirt had to be brought in to shore up low spots. Trees had to be removed and drainage installed.
“It had started to go fallow,” Krasnicki said of the land. “The whole area was sunken.”
The original idea was to erect plaques with bronze plates to honor each service, Krasnicki said. However, it was decided that bronze would tarnish.
Black granite was chosen.
“My wife and I made the patterns for each of the monuments,” Krasnicki said. “And she [Kathryn], and I, did all the research on them.”
Krasnicki is a trustee and secretary of the memorial foundation. Kathryn is a trustee and historian. Kathryn also wrote the verbiage for the monuments, Krasnicki added.
Originally commemorative bricks were sold to raise funds, but donors were hard to find.
“It was pretty rough then one person, who shall remain anonymous, made a $10,000 donation. Then that helped us get going,” Krasnicki said.
After the main plaza was completed, community members knew the group was serious, Krasnicki said.
Donations have been received from public and private sponsorships, as well as materials donated from businesses.
The project does not have a completion date, according to Krasnicki.
“We still have a fountain to put in,” he said.
The fountain will be in the area of the Killed in Action memorial, which depicts a pair of boots, with a rifle stuck barrel first into the ground, with a helmet resting on the rifle stock.
“People can sit there in the area of the fountain and contemplate the folks who died for them,” Krasnicki said.
Foundation members also will install lighting and additional landscaping, which could take a year, he added.
However, the park is not just a place where granite carvings honor unknown men and women.
“It’s dedicated to all veterans, living and deceased. And even those who have not been in combat,” Krasnicki said.
The memorial park is also a place for the non-veteran.
“People should have a look at this and have consideration for the people who have earned their freedom,” Krasnicki said.
Bob Zarle, foundation trustee and Vietnam era veteran, served in the United States Army as a member of the military police stationed in in Trois Fontains, France.
“I am proud to be a part of this park,” Zarle said. “It means very much to me.”
Davis added that working at the park is his obligation and a gift to the community.
“This is how we give back to our community and how we honor those who served with us, “ he said.
Donations are still being accepted, with a variety of options available.
To donate visit www.NHVMP.com
