History of the Monument
In 2001, the UAW Local 2075 Veterans Committee decided to thank the Veterans of Ohio and the rest of America for their service. George McManus, a Millwright and U.S. Navy Veteran, produced a small, flat piece of cardboard with five vertical strips of paper on it, that together composed the American Flag.
- The committee formalized the ideas for the monument and commissioned artist, Jerold Hill of Perrysburg, Ohio, to paint the concept.
- Construction began in 2007, and the monument was dedicated on May 22, 2010. The dedication included giving the monument to Johnny Appleseed Metropolitan Park District for operation and maintenance. In the future years the expansion of the monument and the development of a museum is a priority.
Facts About The Monument
Dedicated to the men and women who have served to protect our freedom.
- To recreate the American Flag, the monument is made up of 5 twenty-foot pillars of tiles. Each red, white or blue tile called a "brick plate" is engraved with the name of a veteran, current service person, or someone who just wants to say thanks to our veterans for their freedom.
- The 5 columns represent the 5 branches of the Armed Forces: Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard. The 5 pine trees behind the monument also represent our ever-ready Armed Forces.
- There are 64 boulders in the monument landscape representing the 64 wars and conflicts in which The United States has been involved and our brave service members have served.
- There are small amounts of soil collected from the major battlefields of the 64 wars and conflicts buried at the monument site. Note: not all soil has been collected. This is an ongoing process.
- The wars in which America has fought in Europe are represented by the small field of poppies.
- There are tall grasses in the landscape representing the jungle wars that America has fought.
- The location of the POW flag flying near the monument symbolizes that although not within our reach, these brave men and women are always in our thoughts and hearts. THEY WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN.
