Ceremony to Rededicate the Lakewood Veterans Memorial
10:30 AM Tuesday November 11, 2008
Lakewood Park, Lakewood, Ohio

The public is invited to attend the Rededication of the Lakewood Veterans Memorial Ceremony on Tuesday November 11, 2008 at 10:30 A.M.  The Lakewood Veterans Committee, appointed John C. Kikol to chair the fund raising effort to build a handicap accessible and totally renovated design for the existing Monument that honors Lakewood’s Fallen Heroes from World Wars l and ll, Korea and Viet Nam.  The McCue Design Group, from Lyndhurst Ohio created the new design which was estimated to cost over $100,000.

The proposed renovation plans were presented to the Lakewood City Council on August 25, 2008 and construction work began in earnest in October.  With the support of the North East Ohio community making donations of an estimated $40,000 in cash or pledges and donations of needed materials/labor has reduced the total cost of the renovation to less than fifty per cent of the original estimate.  Mr. Kikol indicated interested donor can still purchase engraved pavers, trees and benches by downloading the donation form from www.onelakewood.com and click on the Veterans Memorial Renovation Project.

Although construction work will not be one hundred per cent complete by the Rededication Ceremony, the public will see the new handicap accessible paver entrances from both the East and West and four thousand square feet of new pavers that surround the existing monument.  Additionally new trees, sod and ten new cast iron benches will provide an enhanced Memorial to honor the memory of the three hundred fifty men whose names are etched into the marble and their respective families.

At 11:00 AM the Annual Veterans Day Ceremony will be held as organized by the City of Lakewood and the Lakewood Veterans Committee.  The Ceremony includes honoring all veterans and their families.  Pat McLaughlin of the law firm of McLaughlin and McCaffrey will be the key note speaker.  The ceremony will conclude with the Lakewood High School Band playing God Bless America, followed by a twenty one gun salute and taps.

For more information concerning the Dedication Ceremony please contact either John C. Kikol at 440-327-6966 or Melissa Garrett at Lakewood City Hall 216-529-6650.