The dedication of a Blue Star and a Gold Star Memorial was held on Flag Day, June 14, in front of the Sylvania Municipal Building. The two memorials have been placed alongside the “Every Man” statue, representing all those who have served in the Military.
A Marine Color Guard led by Master Sargeant, Steve Kosinski, (Ret.) and Marine Corps League, Larry Barnett, offered a tribute to the fallen along with the Northview’s Harmony Road Show, who sang the National Anthem. Guest speakers included the Ohio Garden Club President, Kathy Wagner, and Ohio Garden Club Blue Star/Gold Star Northwest District Chairman, Sara Moomaw and Sylvania City Council President, Mark Frye. Sylvania Mayor Craig Stough served as Master of Ceremonies for the event.
Nancy Cole of the River Road Garden Club, chair of its Blue Star/Gold Star program, along with garden club member and Sylvania resident, Trisha Koelsch, laid red, white, and blue wreaths on the monuments.
Blue Star Memorials have been a proprietary project of the National Garden Club since 1946, stemming from the planting of Blue Star trees following World War II in 1945 and Gold Star Memorials since 2015. The memorials are only available to garden club members for presentations in appropriate locations.
Cole has been the chair since her garden club adopted the project several years ago. She introduced the idea of placing a Blue Star and Gold Star Memorial in the city to Sylvania City Council and the administration last October.
The River Road Garden Club was willing to underwrite the cost of one memorial plus the partial cost of the second. Sylvania City Council members unanimously voted to cover the remaining cost of the memorial.