Among the 50 of them, the veterans who rededicated a memorial to fellow soldiers in Toledo on Tuesday fought in every armed conflict the nation was involved in over the past half-century.
About 100 people joined them on Independence Day at the Veterans Memorial Pathway in Bay Park, off Summit Street in Toledo’s Point Place neighborhood, following the landscaping and walkway upgrades by the city of Toledo earlier this year.
“It gives residents of Point Place a place where they can gather and remember those who died in service,” said event moderator Fred LeFebvre, public information officer and secretary of the Toledo Buffalo Soldiers Motorcycle Club.
“… We did so much research on this to make sure every name is correct, and everything is correct,” he said. “We spent years getting this together.”
Highlights of the 45-minute event included the replacement of the memorial’s flags shredded by the recent tornados and presenting a plaque of recognition from a “grateful city” to Nick Haupricht, a Marine Corps veteran of the Vietnam War, who came up with the idea for the memorial.
First dedicated about 10 years ago, the memorial features plaques with the names of Lucas County residents killed in battle in each war from the Civil War to the present day and a plaque in honor of Lucas County Medal of Honor recipients.
“This re-dedication is important because of all the people who served to keep this country free and to remind us of that. A lot of people just don’t think about it,” said Dan Harden, 65, of Wayne, Ohio, an Army veteran who was stationed in Germany at the height of the Cold War, said.
Earl Mack, 72, of Toledo, who served as an Army medic in Vietnam during the Vietnam War, agreed with him, adding that “it’s important to celebrate the Fourth of July, especially for African-Americans because we were part of that war [for independence] back then.”
Local Jazz artist Kim Buehler and 6th Edition, a vocal jazz ensemble, performed the National Anthem. The colors were presented by local Boy and Girl Scouts members who also led the Pledge of Allegiance. Jazz musician Ben Wolkins played taps.
Veterans were largely members of the Toledo Buffalo Soldiers Motorcycle Club and the Centurions Motorcycle Club, Swanton. Attending dignitaries included State Sen. Paula Hicks-Hudson (D.,Toledo).
“It’s important to be here today because we forget where we come from sometimes,” said Todd Magrum, 56 of Toledo, whose son is serving in the Air Force. “We’ve got to remember where we come from — from those who gave it all. It’s important to remember those guys.”
First Published July 4, 2023, 6:21 p.m.
