Jun 17 2019
Jesse Smith | WMFD
MANSFIELD, OH - The Mansfield Gold Star Families Memorial Monument Committee has announced that after months of planning, work will finally commence on the building of the Gold Star Memorial Monument in front of the Richland County Courthouse.
The memorial is meant to preserve the memories of fallen heroes and remind witnesses of those that have paid the ultimate sacrifice. The monument will be created out of black granite and will consist of two sides, which will bear the words "Gold Star Families Memorial Monument" while the other describes four interwoven stories with themes about homeland, family, patriot, and sacrifice. The cut-out piece between these two sides depicts a soldier in the negative space of the monument, a tribute to the Loved Ones that have sacrified their lives in the name of Freedom.
"It's a great project that's coming to Mansfield," said Jared Smith, Committee Chairman for the Mansfield Gold Star Families Memorial Monument Committee. "Being born and raised in the Mansfield area, I thought, what better way to give back and to pay it forward to the Richland County/Mansfield area than to bring a Gold Star Families Monument here?"
The keynote speaker at the groundbreaking ceremony will be Medal of Honor Recipient Hershel "Woody" Williams, who is in charge of the Gold Star Families Memorial Monument group. A public groundbreaking will take place on July 6th at 11:30 AM in front of the Courthouse, which is located at 50 Park Avenue East in downtown Mansfield.
The Committee also stated that they want to thank the AMVETS Post 26 and the Richland County Commissioners for their assistance with the project.