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  • An American Flag is planted in front of a list of Traverse City-area veterans killed in World War I, part of a veterans memorial at Bay Street and U.S. 31. Record-Eagle/Jan-Michael Stump

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  • From left, George and Sue Champlin, Bill Volkening, and Cecelia and Jack Pickard stand near the veterans memorial currently located at Bay Street and U.S. 31. The Grand Traverse Area Veterans Coalition plans to move the memorial to the new Veterans Memorial Park at 11th Street and Elmwood Avenue. Record-Eagle/Jan-Michael Stump

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July 24, 2010

War memorial relocating

War memorial relocating to 11th and Elmwood

BY SHERI McWHIRTER smcwhirter@record-eagle.com

Traverse City — World War II veteran Bill Fagan looks forward to a quieter, more accessible location for a collection of military monuments in Traverse City.

Plans are to move a long-standing war memorial near West Grand Traverse Bay to city parkland near 11th Street and Elmwood Avenue in the next couple of weeks.

The first phase in developing the new Grand Traverse Area Veterans Memorial Park will be to relocate the seven stone monuments from the corner of Bay and Division streets, where they've stood since 1991.

"It sounds good to me," Fagan said. "That intersection where it is now is an impossible location to do anything."

The current spot overlooks West Bay, but increased traffic over the years and lack of parking make the site problematic for gatherings and solemn memorial services, said Jack Pickard, president of the Grand Traverse Area Veterans Coalition.

"When it was placed here it was thought to be a great idea," Pickard said.

Now when local veterans and others gather there for services, heavy traffic often makes it difficult to hear what's being spoken, said Bill Volkening, commander at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Cherryland Post in Traverse City.

"Our biggest thing is wanting a place people can visit. It's hard to visit here with the noise," he said.

Another concern is how memorial visitors often must park across the street at the Elks lodge and struggle to cross busy Division Street, including those who use wheelchairs, Volkening said.

Pickard said traffic noise and minimal parking prompted a location change that's expected to be completed within the next couple of weeks.

Additional monuments eventually will be placed in the new location, including some from the VFW post. Engraved bricks also will be sold to create a memorial walk at the new park.

Once the monuments are moved, picnic tables may be placed where they formerly stood, said Lauren Vaughn, the city's parks and recreation superintendent.

Several families are spearheading the effort to relocate the memorial, but are asking for donations to help shoulder the cost, currently estimated around $20,000 for the first phase.

"The more people you get involved, the better ... it gives people ownership of it," said George Champlin, who donated money to the effort and also serves as the vice president for Forgotten Eagles of Michigan, Chapter 6.

Champlin and his wife, Sue, along with Pickard and his wife, Cecilia, and Volkening and his wife, Flo, guaranteed funds to move the monuments until enough donations are received.

Donations can be made at any Traverse City State Bank branch to the Veterans Park account of the Grand Traverse Area Veterans Coalition. Donations also can be sent to GTAVC, P.O. Box 5315, Traverse City, MI, 49696.

Donations are tax-deductible through the VFW's tax No. 38-1200333.

Call Pickard at 499-4665 for more information.

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