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Created in 1988, the Greater Cleveland
Veteran's Memorial, Inc. (initially named the Greater
Cleveland Vietnam Veteran's Memorial, Inc.) was formed to
honor those who served, died, or were declared missing in
Vietnam from the Greater Cleveland area. This initial band
of Vietnam veterans, however, recognized the need for a broader
mission and the participation of veterans of all wars in this
special project. The scope of the evolving GCVM mission: to
create and maintain appropriate memorials to those Greater
Clevelanders who died or were declared missing in service
to our nation in the wars that have taken place in the 20th
century. Our mission, once again, has expanded to include
the casualties of Gulf War II (Iraq, 2003).
One of the most challenging tasks was to compile and verify
the names of all the servicemen killed or missing from the
Greater Cleveland area. Presently, on the granite basin of
the Veterans' Memorial Plaza (formerly Mall "A"),
Marshall Fredericks' majestic centerpiece (the Fountain of
Eternal Life, symbolizing mankind rising out of the ashes
of war), are those names of World War II and Korean casualties
from the City of Cleveland who perished in those wars. Marshall
Fredericks described his central Figure, towering 46 feet
above the basin, in this way:
"This Figure expresses the main theme of the
Fountain, namely, the spirit of mankind rising out of
the encircling flames of war, pestilence, and the destructive
elements of life, reaching and ascending to a new understanding
of life. Man rising above death, reaching upward to
his God and toward Peace."
Our objective has been to add the names of servicemen killed
or declared missing from Cuyahoga County from all 20th century
wars beginning with the Spanish-American War through the Persian
Gulf War's I and II to the Center Fountain. The GCVM's
Honor Roll Project,
chaired and directed by Bob Camburn, a Navy veteran of the
Vietnam War, has worked diligently since 1989 to accomplish
the following tasks:
- Compile and verify all names from the wars of the 20th
century beyond World War II and Korea;
- Gather personal information to the extent possible as
to each of the casualties of all the wars of the 20th
century; and
- Confirm that the names currently on the center fountain
of the Veterans' Memorial Plaza are spelled correctly.
There are currently 4,177 names on the existing Center Fountain
Memorial. These names represent Americans who died during
WWII and Korea. We will add approximately 1,270 additional
names to the Center Fountain Memorial to include those Greater
Clevelanders who died in the Spanish-American War, WWI, Vietnam,
and the Persian Gulf War's I and II. This number also includes
those who perished during WWII and Korea, for whom we found
information, but whose names are not currently on the Center
Fountain Memorial. To review the Greater Cleveland Veteran's
Memorial Honor Roll Criteria please see the Criteria
page.
The Greater Cleveland Veteran's Memorial, Inc., an Ohio corporation
not for profit, is a 501(c)(3) charitable corporation representing
veterans throughout Cuyahoga County. Ten years ago the GCVM's
plan was to design, construct, and perpetually maintain memorial
sculptures on Veteran's Memorial Plaza coordinated artistically
with Marshall Fredericks' sculpture, "The Fountain of
Eternal Life", in addition to adding the names of Greater
Cleveland's war casualties to the Center Fountain. Along with
the explosion in technology, the GCVM's plan evolved into
the creation of a "living memorial" to honor our
war casualties in place of the more traditional sculptures.
This web site is our "living memorial" to those
who sacrificed their lives in service to our country. This
living memorial invites family, loved ones, friends, comrades-at-arms,
acquaintances, and strangers to enter and learn about those
who served and died. Help us to remember - - to memorialize
- - the service and sacrifice reflected in these names. Help
us as we continue to gather accurate information, including
photographs, of all 5,511 persons honored on this site. Each
name represents a person whose life was cut short in service
to duty, honor, and country. We owe a sacred obligation to
these fallen heroes that the generations to come not forget
what they have done. This living memorial will ensure that
Greater Cleveland's casualties of war spanning the 104 years
from 1899 to 2003 will not be forgotten.
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GCVM Volunteers |
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Since
its creation in 1988 the GCVM has been served by volunteers.
Men and women in this community, veteran and non-veteran alike,
have contributed countless hours of their time to make this
memorial a reality. Over the years, many have volunteered to
assist in different ways. Those contributions are acknowledged
and recognized even though we cannot name all who gave something
to the cause. Others served as officers and trustees of the
GCVM, which we acknowledge and to whom we offer thanks (in alphabetical
order): Frank Aleksandrowicz, Martin J. Bar, Joseph Barron,
Dell Beekman, Jr.*, Harriet M. Beekman*, Virginia Benson, Charla
Billy, Robert L. Bloom, Robert A. Camburn*, Donald A. Campbell,
Cynthia Campbell, John Campbell, James Ciara, Phillip A. Cooney,
James Daley, Richard W. Danielson*, Mark DeMarino, Robert S.
Easley, William L. Eason, Sean E. Ennis*, William C. Ferguson,
Fred R. Fox, Jr., Patricia Giles, Dan E. Hogan, Tom J. Horvath,
Michael E. Jackson, Ronald E. Kimmel, Karl J. Koch*, John C.
Kovach, Mathew Lobas, James D. Markham, Patrick M. McLaughlin*,
Judge Timothy McMonagle, Joseph P. Meissner*, Kenneth P. Milenovic,
Judge Donald C. Nugent, Richard Oehlstrom*, Chester R. Ostrowski,
Ronald J. Paciorek, James D. Quisenberry*, Roman Rakowsky, Dick
Readinger, Jr., Larry Rieck, Edwin M. Robins, Rimantas 'Ray'
Saikus, Robert Schumacher, Kenneth G. Schutt, Margaret Stano,
Ronald J. Seman, Willard Shepard, John A. Smerillo, Ben S. Stefanski
II, Frank Tesch, George N. Vourlojianis, Klaus Williams, and
Dietz H. Ziechmann.
(* indicates current GCVM officer)
In addition to officers, trustees, and volunteers this long
endeavor has been aided by others who have contributed significantly
to our progress. We offer our gratitude to our advisors and
Capital Campaign fundraisers, many of whom are veterans (in
alphabetical order): Richard J. Ambrose, E. John Brzytwa, Barton
D. Buechner, Carter R. Dodge, Gil Goldberg, Robert Haas, James
B. Jerele, Thomas S. Kilbane, Frank E. King, William J. Kopp,
Michael Marcellino, Edwin A. Moore, John Pallam, John S. Perry,
John S. Pyle, Donald L. Stallard, Edward Sunyak, Marion (Gene)
Talley, Hilary S. Taylor, Frank J. Valenta, and Robert J. Valerian.
Special recognition
and heartfelt thanks go to Anthony J. Poderis, Rolf Nord Kriken,
Theodore E. Kurz, and Hunter Morrison for their unique guidance,
expertise and contributions.
Lastly, we express our personal acknowledgment
and appreciation to the late Marshall Fredericks who warmly
welcomed and encouraged the GCVM in this mission. Like his
monumental central Figure, he too was larger than life.
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GCVM Contributors
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Our mission could not be accomplished without the financial
support of so many Greater Cleveland entities and individuals.
Greater Cleveland did not let its war veterans down. The community
responded with large and small donations, both monetary and
in-kind contributions, without which this living memorial
and the addition of the approximately 1,270 names to the Center
Fountain Memorial (the adding of additional names expected
to be completed and dedicated in 2003), would not have been
possible. We recognize and thank the donors for their generosity
and willingness to honor Greater Cleveland's war casualties:
The George Gund Foundation; Cuyahoga County; Fred Lennon Charitable
Trust; Cleveland Foundation; Ohio Arts Council; Nestlé-Stouffers;
The Abington Foundation; The Andrews Foundation; The Murch
Foundation; TRW Foundation; S. K. Wellman Foundation; Ed Lozick;
Sherwin Williams; Mr. and Mrs. Jack Breen; Christine &
Patrick McLaughlin; Edgewater VFW Post 387, West Shore Chapter
#249, VVA; Centerior Energy Foundation (CEI); The Fox Foundation;
Cleveland Browns; Dick and Kim Rose; Brush Wellman; Huntington
National Bank; The Myers Foundation; The Carney Foundation;
McLaughlin & McCaffrey, LLP; Cleveland Grays; Merrill
Lynch; Anonymous; AmVets Post #80; Cuyahoga County Mayors'
Secretaries Assoc.; MK Ferguson; American Legion, Firefighter's
Post 339; American Ex-Prisoners of War, Barbed Wire Buckeye
Chapter; Arter & Hadden; Polish Legion of American Veterans,
U.S.A.; Richard Green; Thomas McDonald; Margaret Stano; Ben
S. Stefanski, II; Dengensha America Corp.; Goodtime Cruise
Line, Inc.; VVA Greater Cleveland Chapter 15; VFW Post 1082;
82nd Airborne Division Association; and American Legion Auxiliary
Unit 738, Fairview Park. We have also received contributions
of smaller dollar amounts from multiple donors and we offer
our thanks and admiration to each of those donors.
In addition to monetary contributions we have received in-kind
services from the following which have meant so much to the
GCVM over the years of this special project: McLaughlin &
McCaffrey, LLP; Legal Aid Society of Cleveland; Anthony J.
Poderis; Schwarzwald & Rock; Watt Roop & Co. Public
Relations; Continental Airlines; Sheraton Cleveland City Centre;
Cleveland Marriott Hotel; Milano Monuments; Cleveland Electric
Illuminating Company; Gallo Displays, Inc.; Vinyl Graphics;
Okey Nestor; Alling and Cory; Perlmuter Printing Company;
William R. Joseph; Kotecki Monuments, Inc.; Mansour, Gavin,
Gerlack & Manos Co., LPA; Committee for Public Art; Lakewood
Public Library; Maria's Roman Room; the Cleveland Grays; and
InteroTech, LLC.
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Patrick M. McLaughlin |
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President, GCVM |
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