New Philadelphia dedicates veterans memorial at Schoenbrunn Meadows Cemetery

About 30 people braved the 28-degree temperature on Veterans Day morning to dedicate a new veterans memorial monument at New Philadelphia’s Schoenbrunn Meadows Cemetery.

The 8 a.m. ceremony Nov. 11 included the New Philadelphia VFW Post 1445 Military Honors Team, city officials, Post 1445 Commander, and a number of veterans — many of them Vietnam-era — along with their families.

The stone memorial was donated by the New Philadelphia VFW after Dover Memorials designed the three-stone monument to include a center graphic of a soldier bowing before a Fallen Soldier Battlefield under an American flag.

It also features a patriotic quote by the late Supreme Court Justice, Oliver Wendell Holmes: “One flag, one land, one heart, one hand, one nation evermore.” The center is framed on each side by stones recognizing all branches of the military and P.O.W.s

After an opening prayer delivered by VFW Chaplain Jerry Chenevy, a flag-raising ceremony took place while the Military Honors Team stood watch with a bugler performing “To the Colors.”

New Philadelphia Mayor Joel Day offered a dedication speech, calling the memorial a “stone that will forever stand as a symbol of courage, sacrifice and service.” Day also said the stone will serve as a reminder that the city of New Philadelphia will always remember its veterans.

“This stone may appear simple at first glance—solid, steadfast and unyielding—but its meaning runs deep,” said Day. “It represents the men and women who left the safety of home to serve our country. It represents those who returned and continued to serve their communities and those who rest here among us in eternal peace.”

The ceremony ended with a three-volley salute and Taps to honor all who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces.

Day thanked the members of the New Philadelphia VFW for donating the monument to the cemetery. Additionally, he honored the veterans in attendance, saying “Thank you for your service, your courage and your enduring love of country.”

Chenevy provided a brief explanation of how the monument came to be. “It began as just an informal discussion with Mayor Day and Service Director Ron McAbier,” he said.

“We worked with Dover Memorial on the design and we couldn’t be happier with it.”

Several key people from the city also helped make the project possible, Ron McAbier, the city’s service director. McAbier said the city provided some electrical work for the lights that shine on the monument, but credited the VFW post for the bulk of the funding and work.

“We poured a concrete pad for the stone, and with the electric work, that was our part,” he said. “I think it was about a nine-month process to finally get to the dedication.”

McAbier did say the city is providing a bench for people who would like to sit awhile as they honor veterans, which should arrive the first week of December.

Kelly Herron, the city’s cemetery superintendent, said when Chenevy brought the idea of a memorial to city officials, he took the suggestion to the cemetery board, where members enthusiastically agreed to provide space and a foundation for the stone.

“When you come to our cemetery, it’s one of the first things that jumps out at you,” Herron said. “And I think it should, because I don’t think we would be here today having this conversation if it wasn’t for our veterans.”

Schoenbrunn Memorial Cemetery is located at 2037 Delaware Drive in New Philadelphia.