Page 3 - The Wayne Dispatch

City breaks ground on new Veterans Memorial

A momentous day of accomplish-
ment and excitement was held on
June 16th, 2020, as the Wayne Veter-
ans Memorial Committee held the of-
ficial groundbreaking ceremony on
the south side of Wayne City Hall
where a new Wayne Veterans Memo-
rial will be erected.
Wayne Mayor John Rhaesa said,
“This memorial will be a focal point
long after we’re gone. All veterans
made it possible for us to be here
and there were many who made the
ultimate sacrifice. Thanks for all you
have done and continue to do.”
City Manager and member of the
Wayne Veterans Memorial Commit-
tee, Lisa Nocerini, shared the long
and winding road that lead to the Vet-
erans Memorial. She shared how the
City was approached by local Veter-
ans who were passionate about the Community Development Director and Veterans Memorial board member Lori Gouin speaks at the Veterans Memorial ground
creation of a “true memorial” dedi-
cated to them. breaking. Photo by Natalie Rhaesa
The fundraising for the project “This memorial will be a focal point long after we’re gone. mittee. The bench donated by Miller
started off with generous donations and Nocerini will be in memory of
from Ford Motor Company and All veterans made it possible for us to be here and there were Lloyd Allen.
United Auto Workers Local 900 who many who made the ultimate sacrifice. The committee is planning a rib-
raised nearly $20,000 dollars in bon cutting ceremony that will be
seed funding to help get the project Thanks for all you have done and continue to do.” held in the fall. The committee is still
on track. Mike Smith, Tom Porter, seeking donations for future addi-
Bill Johnson, and Lloyd Allen, mem- Wayne Mayor John Rhaesa tions to the memorial including but
bers of U.A.W. Local 900 presented not limited to signage; honorary
checks to the City. Lloyd Allen, Jr. a In February 2020, the Patronicity the City for the Wayne Veterans Me- plaques or bricks; and for the up-
retired member of UAW Local 900, Campaign went live and the fundrais- morial Project. The committee grate- keep and maintenance of the memo-
citizen of Wayne, and a proud Vet- ing began at a steady pace. Unfortu- fully accepted the donation and the rial. Donations can be mailed or
eran was a fervent supporter of the nately, when the pandemic hit in late monuments have been incorporated dropped off at Wayne City Hall lo-
future Wayne Veterans Memorial. March, the donations stopped. The into the project. The U.A.W. monu- cated at 3355 South Wayne Road,
Lloyd unfortunately lost his battle M.E.D.C. Patronicity team provided ments represent all five branches of Wayne, MI 48184. Please write
with cancer in 2018, but is still an the committee with an option to ex- the services including; the United “Wayne Veterans Memorial” in the
honorary member of the Wayne Vet- tend the fundraiser. The committee States Army, United States Navy, memo line on checks.
erans Memorial Committee. The decided to extend the campaign an- United States Marines, United States The City of Wayne would like to
City Manager spoke about Lloyd’s other month hoping to meet or ex- Air Force, and the United States thank the members of the Wayne Vet-
commitment to the project at the ceed the $30,000.00 dollar goal. In Coast Guard. U.A.W. Local 845 also erans Memorial Committee for their
groundbreaking ceremony. May 2020, the Patronicity campaign, relocated their offices from Ply- hard work and dedication to this
As plans moved forward, the with the help of the Wayne Down- mouth to Wayne earlier this year. project.
committee focused on fundraising ef- town Development Authority who do- While there is still much work to Mayor John Rhaesa, Mayor Pro
forts. In 2019, the committee had nated $10,000.00 dollars and many do, the cement slab is in place, the Tem Tom Porter (Veteran), Ed
raised $10,000 dollars more bring- generous donors from around the memorials have been placed, and Queen, Assistant Director of the
ing the total to $30,000.00 dollars. country, the committee had exceeded designated Veterans Parking is on Wayne Department of Public Works
In 2020, the Wayne Veterans Memo- the $30,000.00 dollar goal and track. The memorial will soon see a (Veteran), Mike Buiten, Director of
rial Committee submitted the project raised $35,000.00 dollars. The Pa- new flag pole, lighting and the com- the Wayne Building and Engineering
to the Michigan Economic Develop- tronicity campaign matched the mittee will be discussing plantings in Department, Mike Smith, citizen and
ment Corporation in an attempt to $30,000.00 dollars which brought the near future. member of U.A.W .Local 900, Chris
qualify for the Patronicity campaign the total raised to $60,000.00 dol- Benches for the memorial have Miller, citizen and member of U.A.W.
which would match donations dollar lars. As donations continued to pour been donated by Mayor Pro Tem Local 900, Alison Hug, U.A.W. Local
for dollar over a selected period of in, the total amount raised for the Tom Porter, Bonnie Porter and their 845, Lori Gouin, Wayne Community
time. The M.E.D.C. accepted the Wayne Veterans Memorial was family, Councilman Kevin Dowd and Development Director, Kathryn Sam-
project and the committee set the $101,000.00 dollars. his family, and Chris Miller, citizen ple, Wayne Finance Director, Lisa No-
goal of $30,000.00 dollars, which In the fall of 2019, United Auto and member of the Wayne Veterans cerini, City Manager and Lloyd Allen,
would double to a $60,000.00 figure Workers Local 845, contacted the Memorial Committee and Lisa No- citizen, retired member of U.A.W.
if the fundraising campaign was suc- committee and offered to donate the cerini, City Manager and member of Local 900, and honorary committee
cessful. monuments in front of their local to the Wayne Veterans Memorial Com- member.
The Wayne Dispatch · July 2020 · 3