T-L Photo/SHELLEY HANSON TERRY WILDMAN of Martins Ferry stands in the center of the area atop Riverview Cemetery where a new veterans monument will be installed. Enough money has been raised to pay for the creation and erection of the monument.

MARTINS FERRY — Now that enough money has been raised plans to erect a new veterans memorial at Riverview Cemetery are moving forward.

Terry Wildman, committee member and a Vietnam war veteran, said $31,950 has been raised via donations from individuals and the sale of memorial bricks that will line walkways leading to the memorial. The granite monument will honor each branch of the military along with honoring first responders as well.

Wildman said the monument will also note the following:

“During the pandemic of 2020, as we battled the COVID-19 virus, the community of Martins Ferry united to construct a memorial to our military veterans. This monument stands as a lasting memorial celebrating not only our military heroes, the veterans of all wars and conflicts, but all of our hometown heroes who have served in our volunteer fire department, our police department and EMS.

The brick walkway radiating out from the center of the monument at cardinal directions has the names of our local heroes etched in the pavers. May this monument stand as a symbol of liberty and freedom, hope and peace for all generations to come”

Wildman said the committee plans to dedicate the memorial on Veterans Day, Nov. 11.

Wildman added that a time capsule — found underneath the old, damaged memorial that was previously on the site — will be opened on dedication day.

“It’s been in the ground for 50 years. … We ran into it and dug it up. It was right there underneath the ground under the monument,” Wildman said.

He noted no one has looked inside of the time capsule, which is being stored in the mayor’s office until dedication day.

“We took the top off, but we didn’t go through it,” Wildman said.

Wildman noted there were a few major donors who helped make the new monument possible, including Mayor John Davies and family, the Brian Dawes family, the Hendershot family and the Tolbert family.

Wildman said 126 bricks have been paid for, but there are several bricks available for people to purchase and have engraved at $100 apiece. For more information, call Wildman at 740-633-0964.

Wildman said lighting will be added to a nearby flag pole and also shine down on the monument.

The 6 foot tall monument will have engravings on all four sides, including the insignias of the branches of the military, along with insignias of groups dedicated to veterans, such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, the Disabled American Veterans and others.

The memorial is being made by Randall Gallagher Memorials. The brick pavers are being donated by Lollini & Sons Brick and Stone.

Veteran Memorial Committee members include Wildman, Mayor John Davies, Service Director Andy Sutak, Councilman Robert Hunker, Councilman Bruce Shrodes, Councilman Tom Burns, Police Chief John McFarland, resident Brian Dawes and the Rev. William Webster.