Greene County Veterans Memorial Fund

The concept

greene county veterans memorial

In 2012 a group of local veterans and citizens established the Greene County Veterans Memorial Fund at Greene Giving Community Foundation. They sponsored an exhibit of the traveling Vietnam Veterans Wall at the Fairgrounds in October 2012. Afterwards, those veterans involved in that project recognized the lack of a memorial to ALL veterans of Greene County at the county seat in Xenia. Years of research and design work now result in this project. The site for the memorial is around the existing flagpole on the south lawn of the county courthouse at Main and Detroit Streets in Xenia. The memorial will honor ALL Greene County citizens who honorably served in the United States Armed Forces, for all years, in peacetime or at war, stateside or overseas, from every township, village, and city in the county.

the design

south lawn of the courthouse

The existing flagpole on the south lawn / Main Street side of the courthouse was installed in 1928 by American Legion Post 95 of Xenia. There is a brass plate on the granite base of the flagpole with the information. Our design will use the flagpole as the centerpiece of a hexagon shaped plaza with monuments to the six (6) armed forces; Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force and Coast Guard.

hexagon plaza

The ground level plaza will be hexagon shaped, with 6 sides representing the 6 US Armed Forces. The area will be covered in paver bricks. A star will be inlaid in lighter colored brick around the base of the flagpole. The red bricks in the plaza will be available for donor engraving in memory of or tribute to veterans (see below). Brass plates and granite benches will be available for large donations or corporate sponsors. The plaza will join existing diagonal sidewalks on the lawn.

Access to all

The hexagon will be adjoined to existing diagonal sidewalks from the Detroit Street and Greene Street corners. It will be walker and wheelchair accessible for persons with disabilities.

the design

entry signage

A granite sign will welcome visitors along the entry walks from Detroit Street and Greene Street. The black granite slab will be a silhouette of the shape of Greene County. On the front is a laser image of an American bald eagle with the "welcome home" yellow ribbon in its talons. Behind the eagle is a laser etched historical map of Greene County. The title "GREENE COUNTY VETERANS MEMORIAL" will be engraved below the eagle.

back side of the sign

On the backside of the granite signs will be a display of military campaign ribbons from US history. This display honors those who served during a time of armed conflict. Color inserts will represent the Civil War medal, Spanish-American War medal, World War 1 Service Medal, The World War 2 Victory Medal, the Korea Defense Medal, the National Defense Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Campaign Medal, the Kosovo Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, and the Iraq Campaign Medal. There will be space for future additions of ribbons.

There is also an image and quote from Greene County's native warrior Chief Tecumseh:

“So live your life that the fear of death can never enter your heart"

flagpoles

There will be six flagpoles installed at each corner of the hexagon plaza. The flag of each armed force will be on a separate pole. Ground flush lighting will illuminate the flags and the monuments after dark.

The US Flag and the federal POW MIA Flag will continue to be flown on the existing flagpole.

the design

armed forces monuments

There will be six vertical granite monuments engraved and laser etched to represent each of the US Armed Forces. On the front side an image of a military member in full dress uniform will be saluting the US Flag on the center pole. The background will be laser etched historical images of the military service in action. On the back side of the monument a brief paragraph will be engraved explaining the founding , history and mission of the armed forces branch.

memorial pavers

The red pavers in the center of the hexagon plaza can be engraved with names, branch and dates of service for a donation. Bricks are available in 4 inch by 8 inch or 8 inch by 8 inch. See below to order a tribute to your veteran.

memorial plates and benches

Brass ground level plates are available around the sides of the hexagon. Granite engraved benches can be placed along the sidewalks at the memorial for donations. See below and contact us for details for your personal tribute, veterans group or corporate sponsor.