thedrifter
11-16-08, 07:03 AM
Stowsentry.com
City pays tribute to U.S. Marine Corps
by Phil Keren
Cuyahoga Falls News-Press Editor
Cuyahoga Falls -- On the U.S. Marine Corps' 233rd birthday, the city, along with a local Marine Corps organization, offered a special tribute to the military service branch.
Cuyahoga Falls Mayor Don L. Robart, as well as members of the Chesty Puller Detachment Marine Corps League and a Marine leader who served in Iraq, unveiled the United States Marine Corps Memorial Monument Nov. 10.
The monument sits in the median strip along Broad Boulevard between Second and Third streets. At the top of the gray structure is the U.S. Marine Corps seal, and the message "Freedom Is Not Free" is engraved below it. The Marine Corps motto "Semper Fidelis" is engraved at the base of the piece.
A moment after the unveiling, Robart, who served in the Marines, described the memorial as "beautiful."
"It will be here for ages," said Robart.
"I'm sure the monument's going to be here a lot longer than most of us," said Don Bettio of the Chesty Puller Detachment Marine Corps League. Bettio noted there would eventually be benches around the memorial. Bettio thanked former State Rep. John Widowfield for his work in securing the $10,000 in state funding for the project.
"It took three years [and] a lot of hard paper work," said Bettio. "I can't say enough for you, John -- for what you did."
After the ceremony, Widowfield told the Falls News-Press he was in the U.S. Army, his father served in the Korean War, his uncle served in the Marine Corps in Vietnam and his brother also served in the Marine Corps.
"I've got a fondness in my heart for the military, and all they provide our country," said Widowfield.
Widowfield said Bettio approached him a few years ago about putting a more permanent memorial in the city for the Marines. Widowfield said he requested funding for the project at the Ohio House of Representatives.
"I am so moved to be here with you," said 13th District U.S. Congresswoman Betty Sutton (D), who noted her nephew served in the Marines. "It is so wonderful that the community has made a way, along with the help of State Rep. Widowfield, to memorialize our appreciation for all that you [the Marines] have given in service and in sacrifice, and that which your families have given in service and in sacrifice."
In the benediction, Cuyahoga Falls City Councilman Terry Mader (R-8), who also served in the Marines, said the monument is "a small human effort to express our thanksgiving again to all those who have paid the ultimate cost."
The guest speaker for the event was Retired U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Major John Rethage, who served two tours of duty in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Robart described Sgt. Major Rethage "a Marine's Marine."
Sgt. Major Rethage called the memorial monument "awesome."
"It's a fitting way to always remember those Marines who went before, all those who are currently serving, and all those young Marines who will surely follow in our footsteps," said Sgt. Major Rethage. "They serve and sacrifice in order to protect the American way of life. These heroes, they keep America safe and they keep America free, so please keep them in your thoughts and prayers this holiday season."
Sgt. Major Rethage told the crowd the country's leadership turns to the Marines when a crisis occurs.
"We're still America's 9-1-1 force," said Sgt. Major Rethage. "We're still the most ready when the nation is the least ready. We are the force of choice of the commander-in-chief."
Sgt. Major Rethage also explained to the crowd why some choose to serve in the U.S. Marines.
"Marines fight and die, not for the glory of war, but for the prize of freedom," said Sgt. Major Rethage. "Marines do not fight for glory, but to fulfill a duty. They do not yearn to be heroes. They yearn to take care of their buddies on the battlefield. They yearn to make it home to hold their sweethearts and watch their sons and daughters enjoy the daily miracle of freedom in America."
Observing that all Marines "share a common bond," Sgt. Major Rethage noted he had recently forged friendships with Robart, Mader and two other former Marines.
"I have four lifetime friends," said Sgt. Major Rethage.
Robart also recalled the deaths of Marine Sgt. Justin T. Walsh in 2006 and Army Sgt. Bryan Large in 2005. Both young men served in Iraq. Sgt. Walsh's mother Terri and brother James Walsh II were in attendance at the ceremony.
"This memorial is every bit for them as it is the people of Cuyahoga Falls," said Robart.
Widowfield said while the memorial represents a way of saying "thank you" to the Marines who have served, he noted elected officials at the state and federal level must "make sure these folks [in the military] ... get the equipment that they need to do the job, that they're properly trained, ... and when they come back from doing the job that they get the health care they need, [and] that their needs are met."
Widowfield added, "That's what's important."
E-mail: pkeren@recordpub.com
Phone: 330-686-3940
Ellie
City pays tribute to U.S. Marine Corps
by Phil Keren
Cuyahoga Falls News-Press Editor
Cuyahoga Falls -- On the U.S. Marine Corps' 233rd birthday, the city, along with a local Marine Corps organization, offered a special tribute to the military service branch.
Cuyahoga Falls Mayor Don L. Robart, as well as members of the Chesty Puller Detachment Marine Corps League and a Marine leader who served in Iraq, unveiled the United States Marine Corps Memorial Monument Nov. 10.
The monument sits in the median strip along Broad Boulevard between Second and Third streets. At the top of the gray structure is the U.S. Marine Corps seal, and the message "Freedom Is Not Free" is engraved below it. The Marine Corps motto "Semper Fidelis" is engraved at the base of the piece.
A moment after the unveiling, Robart, who served in the Marines, described the memorial as "beautiful."
"It will be here for ages," said Robart.
"I'm sure the monument's going to be here a lot longer than most of us," said Don Bettio of the Chesty Puller Detachment Marine Corps League. Bettio noted there would eventually be benches around the memorial. Bettio thanked former State Rep. John Widowfield for his work in securing the $10,000 in state funding for the project.
"It took three years [and] a lot of hard paper work," said Bettio. "I can't say enough for you, John -- for what you did."
After the ceremony, Widowfield told the Falls News-Press he was in the U.S. Army, his father served in the Korean War, his uncle served in the Marine Corps in Vietnam and his brother also served in the Marine Corps.
"I've got a fondness in my heart for the military, and all they provide our country," said Widowfield.
Widowfield said Bettio approached him a few years ago about putting a more permanent memorial in the city for the Marines. Widowfield said he requested funding for the project at the Ohio House of Representatives.
"I am so moved to be here with you," said 13th District U.S. Congresswoman Betty Sutton (D), who noted her nephew served in the Marines. "It is so wonderful that the community has made a way, along with the help of State Rep. Widowfield, to memorialize our appreciation for all that you [the Marines] have given in service and in sacrifice, and that which your families have given in service and in sacrifice."
In the benediction, Cuyahoga Falls City Councilman Terry Mader (R-8), who also served in the Marines, said the monument is "a small human effort to express our thanksgiving again to all those who have paid the ultimate cost."
The guest speaker for the event was Retired U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Major John Rethage, who served two tours of duty in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Robart described Sgt. Major Rethage "a Marine's Marine."
Sgt. Major Rethage called the memorial monument "awesome."
"It's a fitting way to always remember those Marines who went before, all those who are currently serving, and all those young Marines who will surely follow in our footsteps," said Sgt. Major Rethage. "They serve and sacrifice in order to protect the American way of life. These heroes, they keep America safe and they keep America free, so please keep them in your thoughts and prayers this holiday season."
Sgt. Major Rethage told the crowd the country's leadership turns to the Marines when a crisis occurs.
"We're still America's 9-1-1 force," said Sgt. Major Rethage. "We're still the most ready when the nation is the least ready. We are the force of choice of the commander-in-chief."
Sgt. Major Rethage also explained to the crowd why some choose to serve in the U.S. Marines.
"Marines fight and die, not for the glory of war, but for the prize of freedom," said Sgt. Major Rethage. "Marines do not fight for glory, but to fulfill a duty. They do not yearn to be heroes. They yearn to take care of their buddies on the battlefield. They yearn to make it home to hold their sweethearts and watch their sons and daughters enjoy the daily miracle of freedom in America."
Observing that all Marines "share a common bond," Sgt. Major Rethage noted he had recently forged friendships with Robart, Mader and two other former Marines.
"I have four lifetime friends," said Sgt. Major Rethage.
Robart also recalled the deaths of Marine Sgt. Justin T. Walsh in 2006 and Army Sgt. Bryan Large in 2005. Both young men served in Iraq. Sgt. Walsh's mother Terri and brother James Walsh II were in attendance at the ceremony.
"This memorial is every bit for them as it is the people of Cuyahoga Falls," said Robart.
Widowfield said while the memorial represents a way of saying "thank you" to the Marines who have served, he noted elected officials at the state and federal level must "make sure these folks [in the military] ... get the equipment that they need to do the job, that they're properly trained, ... and when they come back from doing the job that they get the health care they need, [and] that their needs are met."
Widowfield added, "That's what's important."
E-mail: pkeren@recordpub.com
Phone: 330-686-3940
Ellie