Millersburg Lions support veterans monument effort

The Millersburg Lions are well known for supporting myriad community projects.

On Thursday, Nov. 16, several of the club’s members gathered with Jim Miller of the veterans monument group to present him with a $5,000 donation to the ongoing effort.

The purpose of the meeting at the partially completed monument beside the Holmes County District Public Library on Glen Drive was twofold.

“The main reason we did this is because we as a Lions Club greatly desire to build relationships within our community, and we want to support as many things as we possibly can,” said Frank Arnold, Millersburg Lions Club member. “We see needs and hope to jump in and help out where we can.

“But the other reason we felt the need to publicize this is because there continues to be a great need to support this wonderful project. There’s a long way to go.”

“We hope that by seeing this, it entices other organizations to donate to the cause,” said Ed Dye, Millersburg Lions Club member. “There are probably many people in our community who don’t know anything about this project.”

Arnold said the conversation among the Lions Club members to support the veterans monument effort began this past spring, and while the initial talks began at around $1,000, they quickly rose to $5,000.

“Both Frank and I and others felt that $1,000 wasn’t enough, and we believed this project was important enough to give a lot more,” Arnold said.

Dye said projects the Lions do throughout the year include the upcoming St. John’s Christmas Craft Show the Lions have joined for Saturday, Dec. 2, the chicken barbecue, their presence as a food stand at the Holmes County Fair and other fundraising efforts, and they all create funding the club pours back into the community.

Out of respect to the many local veterans and the organizers driving this project, they felt a desire to donate, and Arnold said they probably aren’t done giving to the cause.

“It all adds up, and while we use it to provide people with eyeglasses and hearing aids, we try to give to as many local organizations as possible,” Dye said. “This is a great thing for our community.”

Arnold said that in his many years as a member of the Millersburg Lions Club, this is the single largest donation the club has made.

Jim Miller, one of the many veterans who have organized the monument undertaking, said they are incredibly grateful to receive such a wonderful donation. He said they continue to see donations come in, but they are far from the end game they have visualized in creating this area devoted to honoring service members who were killed in action, missing in action or prisoners of war.

Currently, the flagpole has been installed, and recently, the sidewalk around the monument and the paving stones were installed. Leon Raber of Creative Heartscapes laid all the paving stones while Joel Menuez donated the concrete, Travis Weber placed the memorial footer and Tommy Horn put in the sidewalk.

The structure will feature a 24-by-40-foot Cascade-style pavilion.

Eventually, the area will include a monument with a 4-foot-high brick wall in front of it, and the monument will feature seven stones, the first of which will honor all of the area veterans who are MIA or KIA; a new pavilion with seating and tables; and placards placed around the walking path featuring historical data that focuses on the many U.S. conflicts.

“We’re excited about the progress, but our vision is far from complete,” Miller said. “This is eventually going to be a place where people and especially our veterans can gather and not only honor our veterans, but socialize in a beautiful setting.”

Anyone wishing to donate, especially as the year draws to an end, can make a tax-free donation to either the veterans memorial group or to the Lions Club, both of which are 501(c)(3) tax-deductible groups.

If anyone wants to become a Lions Club member, they may do so by contacting any of the Lions Club members.