Fri Sep 03 2010
by Amanda Harnocz
Reporter
Tallmadge -- Seven men from Tallmadge, all who served and some who died for their country during the Vietnam War, are being honored and memorialized with a park bench temporarily displayed in Circle Park.
Back in April, City Council approved donating $3,500 toward the park and for a memorial bench as part of an Ohio Vietnam Veterans' Memorial Park in Clinton.
Once approved, Mayor Christopher Grimm approached the Tallmadge American Legion Post 255 and asked for its involvement in the design of the memorial bench, according to Legion Commander Jim Forsythe, who served in Vietnam.
Designed by resident, legion member, and Vietnam Veteran Bruce Welsh, the bench is made of black granite and will remain in Tallmadge until the Clinton park is finished by Memorial Day next year, Forsythe said.
The bench features the city logo, the American Legion logo and the names of the seven Vietnam War veterans -- James Forshey, Wayne Heiser, John Henderson, Carl Hoffman, Timothy Kranshan, Larry Marsh and Wesley Woodford.
Henderson, Kranshan and Woodford were killed in action.
Forsythe said he knew many of the names on the bench, including Forshey who is his brother-in-law.
The bench also has "We Shall Never Forget!" etched into the granite, which is the theme of the Clinton park.
"This was the first graphic design project for my company and me," said Welsh, owner of Sophisticated Shutter in Tallmadge. "I'm new to the American Legion and it was truly an honor to work on this."
When the park officially opens next year, it will feature the bench from Tallmadge along with 34 other benches donated statewide,
The $1.7 million park is 2-acres with a 125-foot black granite wall inscribed with the 3,095 names of those who lost their lives in the Vietnam War, according to the project's vice president, Chell Rossi.
The park is located on the Scenic Byway along the Ohio and Erie Canalway on Massillon Road in Clinton, she said.
Until next May, residents are invited to visit Circle Park to see the memorial bench.
E-mail: aharnocz@recordpub.com
Phone: 330-686-3911
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