CLINTON: The names of Ohioans killed in Iraq, Afghanistan and the first Gulf War will be added to the Ohio Veterans’ Memorial Park wall by late this summer.
Officials also are discussing the possibility of adding the names of Ohioans killed in the Korean War.
The park, at 8005 S. Cleveland-Massillon Road in Clinton, includes a wall inscribed with the names of the 3,095 Ohioans who were killed in Vietnam. To be added are the names of 16 Ohioans killed in the first Gulf War and 275 Ohioans who have died to date in Iraq or Afghanistan.
Ken Noon, a park board trustee and president of Summit Memorials, said the names will be engraved into the opposite side of the wall on which the Vietnam names are inscribed.
“Our goal is to have the money raised by July 4,” Noon said.
While the names of those who died in Vietnam are inscribed in alphabetical order, the new names will be listed in the chronological order of the veterans’ deaths, Noon said.
He said the engraving will cost about $60 per name.
Along with those plans, Noon said, officials at the park expect to meet with Korean War veterans in April to talk about putting the names of more than 1,800 veterans who were killed in Korea on the memorial.
Some parents of local service members gave their support to plans to add the names of those who have died in the war on terrorism.
“I think it is a great idea,” said Wes Emch, of Brimfield. He is the father of Navy Hospitalman Luke Emch, 21, a Tallmadge High graduate and Navy Corpsman who was killed in Iraq on March 2, 2007.
“It is a great place, and these names deserve to be there.”
Donna Kuglics, mother of Air Force Staff Sgt. Matthew Kuglics, agreed with Emch.
“It is nice they are doing it,” said Kuglics, whose 25-year old son, a Green High School graduate, was killed June 5, 2007, in Iraq.
The main fundraiser for adding the Iraq/Afghanistan/Gulf names will be the second annual Concert at the Park and Run to the Wall to be held Aug. 4 in Clinton.
To donate or to sign up for the 5k or 10k races, call 330-773-2385, email info@ovmp.org or go to www.ovmp.org or www.ovmpconcert.com.
Jim Carney can be reached at 330-996-3576 or at jcarney@thebeaconjournal.com.