Greenfield Twp. to dedicate veterans monument
Oct. 15—GREENFIELD TWP. — A monument honoring township residents who have served in the armed forces will be dedicated on Veterans Day.
The Nov. 11 event will include a ceremony from 2 to 2:30 p.m. at the site at 424 Route 106 and a reception in the township Fire Department hall.
Designed by Supervisor Vice Chair Joe Slebodnik, the 2,000-square-foot triangular monument includes a flagpole and 11-foot stone with the names of residents who served in World War II in the center, and veterans' names on stones along the memorial's perimeter, which the public can purchase. As of Friday, a little more than 30 stones had been bought; they are still for sale, township officials said.
The monument is part of the 4.5-acre Greenfield Twp. Community Park and Veterans Memorial, which will include a walking trail, parking lot and all-inclusive playground. There is also a dog park.
Patty Apostolakes, the project manager, is thrilled to see the monument come together. It's been in the works for nearly 10 years by the township park committee.
"It's taken many years to get to this point," she said. "We're really happy to see that it's come so far."
Supervisor Chair Susanne Totsky is happy to have a place honoring veterans.
"We've been working so hard to try to make this dream come true," she said.
The ceremony will feature a keynote address by retired Army Maj. Gen. John L. Gronski. The Moosic native led the Pennsylvania Army National Guard's 2nd Brigade Combat Team, which township native Eric W. Slebodnik, an Army National Guard specialist killed in the line of duty in Iraq in 2005, was a member of. Slebodnik's name will be among those listed on the stones.
Apostolakes appreciates the community support for the monument, adding the reception afterward allows the public to learn more about the monument, park and nearby Greenfield Twp. Historical Society.
In the future, committee members hope to add landscaping, as well as a decommissioned helicopter to the monument.
"It's a place for rest and reflection," Apostolakes said.
Erika Wormuth has watched the park take shape from her home in the 400 block of Route 106. She likes what she sees.
"We are excited to have a place to hang out as a family," she said. "It's a nice place for kids to meet up and have fun."
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