The motion proposed building a veterans memorial in the center of Thomas Cloud Park at 4707 Brandt Pike. The memorial would pay respects to veterans of all wars and conflicts. It would also have an educational aspect.
All council members who spoke were in favor of building the memorial and making it a city project, but the best location for the memorial was disputed.
Councilman Seth Morgan said he was opposed to that location because it is on the southern tip of the city.
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“I assume we’re going to have one veterans memorial and not two,” Morgan said. “I’d like for us to be progressive, thoughtful and creative on (the placement).”
Al Griggs, the chair of the Huber Heights Military and Veterans Commission, which researched and proposed the project, said he thought Thomas Cloud Park would be the most accessible location for the park, which is one of the reasons it was chosen.
Gary Sherman Park, which is on John Geiger Way, was also proposed as a possible location for the memorial.
Councilmen Richard Shaw and Glenn Otto wanted further discussion on the memorial’s location.
Shaw said he wanted to see if it was possible to get further feedback on a location for the veterans memorial from various groups in the area, like the VFW or AMVETS.
Councilwoman Nancy Byrge said the Military and Veteran’s Commission had been researching a location for the memorial for a long time and given many groups, like the ones Shaw mentioned, “ample opportunity” to give feedback.
“We have waited a very long time to get this project rolling, and I think now is the time to get it going,” Byrge said.
Before the meeting, Huber Heights City Manager Rob Schommer said he thought the council would support the memorial.
“We’ll resolve and meet in the middle somewhere. We always do,” Schommer said.
The Military and Veterans Commission will meet again and work on a different location for the memorial. City council will discuss the memorial again at its work session on Aug. 20.
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