WWII memorial to be set by November
Vietnam Veteran AKRON —
Bruce Kilian pushed for Summit County to restore a World War I doughboy statue outside of the Summit County Courthouse to its former glory.
He succeeded, with the project completed in 2013.
With this victory under his belt, Kilian approached the county a few years later with his next idea: a World War II memorial at the courthouse next to the doughboy.
Work began on the World War II memorial project this week, with a public unveiling planned for November, helping to mark Veterans Day. Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro mentioned the project and commemoration in her State of the County speech Thursday.
“The folks who gave their lives during World War II — we can’t understand how different the world would be if they had not been successful in that war,” said Jason Dodson, Shapiro’s chief of staff. “It’s important for us as a community to not forget the sacrifices of those individuals — and not go back to the type of world that was possible back then.”
Dodson said Kilian approached county leaders two years ago with his WWII proposal, which involved unearthing large memorial plaques showcasing the names of the more than 1,500 men and women from Summit County who died in the war from storage at the University of Akron. The plaques had been displayed in UA’s Memorial Hall but were packed away when that building was torn down in 2010.
County leaders liked the idea, as did UA officials who intended to find a new spot for the memorial but hadn’t yet figured out where it should go.
County officials were concerned that installing the memorial on the side of the courthouse might cost more than $50,000 but were able to add it onto a contract for other improvements being done to the courthouse’s facade for a lesser price tag of about $35,000.
The unveiling will be Nov. 9, the Friday before Veterans Day, which falls on a Sunday this year.
Dodson said local veterans will be invited to be part of the commemoration, especially Kilian. County officials delayed an earlier planned date for the event because Kilian was unavailable.