The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
QUITE A DEDICATION
Veteran Dana Bowman speaks at the dedication ceremony for the new Mercy Health Field at Ely Stadium on Oct. 19. Bowman, a double-amputee and veteran, parachuted from an airplane with a 2,000- square foot American flag in honor of veterans. More on the dedication ceremony on
Elyria City Schools formally dedicated Mercy Health Field at Ely Stadium in a pre-game ceremony on Oct. 19.
With a full lineup of festivities, the new $14 million stadium was honored with the help of some special guests along with tributes to the armed forces and to a number of the school’s graduating seniors.
Lorain County veterans Dana Bowman and Doug Doss parachuted from an airplane flying over the stadium to kick off the dedication.
Bowman, a native of North Ridgeville, is a retired U.S. Army sergeant first class and was a member of the Special Forces and the Army’s elite parachute team The Golden Knights.
Parachuting down with a 2,000-square foot flag in honor of veterans, Bowman landed in a field just outside of the stadium due to strong winds, but took it in stride, using the experience to share his message of hope and perseverance with the crowd.
“Sometimes we don’t land on target. But it’s no big deal. A lot of our soldiers, our warriors and veterans have traveled afar and they fight for that flag each and every day for our freedom. We must not forget our fallen comrades,” Bowman said.
Bowman is a doubleamputee after losing both legs during a training exercise with The Golden Knights in Yuma, Arizona.
After nine months he jumped again and he is the first double-amputee to ever re-enlist with the U.S. Army.
He reminded everyone that at the end of the day everyone is one.
“We come here as one: one team, one voice. Every day is a fight to make it a great world. And that’s what we wanted to do,” Bowman said.
Elyria native and threetime Olympic gold medalist in track and field, Tianna Madison Bartoletta, made her first trip home in seven years.
She described the incredible feeling of driving on the highway and seeing the sign welcoming people to Elyria, the hometown of Olympian Tianna Madison Bartoletta.
“It occurred to me that I am home and it just feels so good to be welcomed back home. I’ve been everywhere from living in the Netherlands to being stranded in Tokyo, Japan and nothing feels better than returning to Elyria, Ohio and coming to another Friday night football,” Bartoletta said.
“I just want to thank you for being there for me when it all started on a track that did not look like this.”
The ceremony took place before Elyria’s final home football game of the season against Strongsville.