Fairfield Township Veterans Memorial Committee Carried the Torch to Completion

The Fairfield Township Veterans Memorial Committee valiantly carried out the vision of friend and local Fairfield Township Veteran John Carboy. Now years in the making the Memorial stands beautifully at Heroes Park on Millikin Road, a testament to the hard work and determination of the late John Carboy and the Veterans Memorial Committee.

“John and I had various conversations about respecting and honoring all Veterans,” says Dr. Fred Valerius, Veterans Memorial Committee member. “Then we were at a Fairfield Community Foundation function in 2015 and Township Trustee John McGinnis proposed the idea of a Veterans Memorial to us.”

What followed was years of planning and preparation that included site visits to other Memorials, identifying a location for a Fairfield Township Veterans Memorial and deciding exactly how the Memorial should look. Carboy was an instrumental part of all of these efforts right up to the day he passed away in September 2019.

“John was a source of inspiration for the entire Committee,” says Valerius. “But we had to buckle down and complete the design with Jim Smith of Art in Stone Monument Company and the fundraising and eventually oversee the construction and installation of the Memorial at Heroes Park.”

Now they are celebrating the completion of a magnificent tribute to Fairfield Township Veterans and Servicemen and women, ultimately a collaboration between the Committee, Fairfield Township Administration and Township Trustees, the Fairfield Community Foundation and the many, many donors who made the project possible.

“What they’ve accomplished is amazing,” says Katie Braswell, Vice President of the Fairfield Community Foundation. “It’s been inspiring to witness the sheer will of this Committee to make this project happen.”

The Fairfield Community Foundation administers the Fairfield Township Veterans Memorial Fund and has worked closely with Valerius and the rest of the Committee to ensure good fiscal management of the Fund. Foundation President and CEO John Guidugli was part of the dedication ceremony program and other staff members have participated in meetings, photo sessions, etc.

“We really feel some kinship with this project,” Braswell says, “we’ve watched the progress and feel a sense of pride now that the Memorial is complete.”

Complete is a relative word, however, as the Fairfield Community Foundation will continue to need donations for expected expansion and upkeep of the Memorial.  Donations of $100.00 or more qualify for plaques on the Memorial’s monuments recognizing members of all branches of the military – Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard regardless of their residency.  Donate here

If you’d like to memorialize a Veteran or someone currently serving, and they are from Fairfield Township, register them on the Memorial website: www.fairfieldtwpvets.com  or call the Township Offices at 513-785-2245.

If you haven’t seen it, make sure you visit Heroes Park located at the intersection of Millikin and Morris Roads behind the Township Offices to view the Township Veterans Memorial. Something to be proud of, for sure.

The Fairfield Township Veterans Memorial Committee valiantly carried out the vision of friend and local Fairfield Township Veteran John Carboy. Now years in the making the Memorial stands beautifully at Heroes Park on Millikin Road, a testament to the hard work and determination of the late John Carboy and the Veterans Memorial Committee.

“John and I had various conversations about respecting and honoring all Veterans,” says Dr. Fred Valerius, Veterans Memorial Committee member. “Then we were at a Fairfield Community Foundation function in 2015 and Township Trustee John McGinnis proposed the idea of a Veterans Memorial to us.”

What followed was years of planning and preparation that included site visits to other Memorials, identifying a location for a Fairfield Township Veterans Memorial and deciding exactly how the Memorial should look. Carboy was an instrumental part of all of these efforts right up to the day he passed away in September 2019.

“John was a source of inspiration for the entire Committee,” says Valerius. “But we had to buckle down and complete the design with Jim Smith of Art in Stone Monument Company and the fundraising and eventually oversee the construction and installation of the Memorial at Heroes Park.”

Now they are celebrating the completion of a magnificent tribute to Fairfield Township Veterans and Servicemen and women, ultimately a collaboration between the Committee, Fairfield Township Administration and Township Trustees, the Fairfield Community Foundation and the many, many donors who made the project possible.

“What they’ve accomplished is amazing,” says Katie Braswell, Vice President of the Fairfield Community Foundation. “It’s been inspiring to witness the sheer will of this Committee to make this project happen.”

The Fairfield Community Foundation administers the Fairfield Township Veterans Memorial Fund and has worked closely with Valerius and the rest of the Committee to ensure good fiscal management of the Fund. Foundation President and CEO John Guidugli was part of the dedication ceremony program and other staff members have participated in meetings, photo sessions, etc.

“We really feel some kinship with this project,” Braswell says, “we’ve watched the progress and feel a sense of pride now that the Memorial is complete.”

Complete is a relative word, however, as the Fairfield Community Foundation will continue to need donations for expected expansion and upkeep of the Memorial.  Donations of $100.00 or more qualify for plaques on the Memorial’s monuments recognizing members of all branches of the military – Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard regardless of their residency.  Donate here

If you’d like to memorialize a Veteran or someone currently serving, and they are from Fairfield Township, register them on the Memorial website: www.fairfieldtwpvets.com  or call the Township Offices at 513-785-2245.

If you haven’t seen it, make sure you visit Heroes Park located at the intersection of Millikin and Morris Roads behind the Township Offices to view the Township Veterans Memorial. Something to be proud of, for sure.