Greater Powell Veterans Memorial Foundation Board
OFFICERS
Captain D. Michael Crites USNR (Ret), President
Americans understand that there exist certain truths that require unquestioned loyalty and personal sacrifice. It has been said that America is a nation that defends principles and people with their own. Our family has had the honor of serving this great nation in the armed forces of the United States in time of war and peace since the American Revolutionary War. That service includes service in the American Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Civil War, World War I, World War II, Vietnam and now Iraq. Our family has always cherished that legacy of service to the Country as citizen-soldiers and knows first hand the sacrifice that is associated with serving in the military. It is only fitting that we recognize the contributions of all veterans with this Memorial. Their devotion to duty and spirit of sacrifice has been and will continue to be an inspiration for all Americans. This Memorial will forever serve as a memorial to their sacrifices in time of war and peace.

Kathryn Gerke, Vice President
As the wife of Brett Gerke and Mother of Christopher and Cpl. Patrick Gerke, our family felt firsthand the sacrifices that both our military and their families go through. Patrick joined the Marine Corps after High School graduation in 2001, and was in the first group to go to Iraq in 2003 and then again in 2004. Our family is blessed and being a part of this Memorial is our way of saying thank you to all Veterans Past, Present and Future. It is my honor and pleasure to be a part of this and I am hopeful that all generations to come can go to this Memorial, take pause, and think of the many people involved in our continued freedom. We are a blessed nation.

Cpl. Rich Brooks, USMC, Desert Storm, Treasurer
I am married to my wife Andrea and we have two boys Colin 4 and Aidan 2. We have lived in Powell for 6 Years. After serving in The Marine Corps for 4 years during the first Gulf War (including Kuwait and Iraq) along with serving the citizens of Columbus for the last 12 years on the Columbus Division of Police, I wanted to give the community I live in something to honor their veterans with. Something that would stand the test of time, just as all veterans have. A place where the citizens of this great country could go and reflect, pay respects and above all honor those who have served this nation in peace and war.

Captain G. Thomas Lennon Jr. USN (Ret), Secretary
Captain Lennon served on active duty with the US Navy for over 29 years from 1971-2000. He was a naval aviator principally flying anti-submarine aircraft from carriers. He has over 5000 hours flight time and 700 arrested landings. He was the Executive Officer of USS Forrestal (CV 59), commanded VS-28, USS Trenton (LPD 14) and was the Professor of Naval Science at The Ohio State University NROTC from which he earned his commission. He comes from a family with extensive military service. His father was a career naval aviator with 27 years of service. He has three brothers who served in the Navy. He has a son who is a Chief Warrant Officer in the Army with two tours in Iraq and his son-in-law is being commissioned today as an Air Force doctor. His wife, Theresa, served as an Army nurse and as a Navy Nurse Practitioner. He joined the GPVMF to help build a memorial in Powell to recognize the service and sacrifice of all veterans from our community.

Gary Vest, USAF, Security Police (1972-1976); Chief of Police, City of Powell, Director at Large
The Greater Powell Veterans Memorial Foundation was established to construct a memorial to recognize our area veterans of military service of “past, present, and future.” This memorial reflects our appreciation of those who have served or are serving in our nation’s military service. I hope that as the visitors stare into the black granite they will see the reflection of a “past, present, or future” supporter of our military forces. Although the memorial is a tribute to our veterans, it says much about our community. When children look upon this memorial, I pray that we are planting seeds in their hearts for
service to others. As a veteran of the United States Air Force and the chief of police for the City of Powell, I am honored to have the privilege of service to my country, to my state, and to my community.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Chief Petty Officer Patrick A. Bowen, USNR,
1992 to Present: Chief Petty Officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve, 1992 to Present. This black granite monument was erected to not only honor the men and woman that have sacrificed so much to provide liberty to so many, but to honor the American fighting spirit. Most Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines never enter into military service because they desire to become a hero, they do so because it needs to be done and their country called. They serve to do what is right for their country, they fight for their families back home, and they charge bunkers to protect those serving beside them. They see themselves not as heroes but as men and woman doing a job that needs to be done, when it needs to be done. It is this unselfish spirit, the absolute best of America, that we hope to honor with this monument I hope that future generations will look at this monument and recognize in the reflection the sacrifices that were given for them, and that the best of those individuals will continue to serve for the generations to follow.

Maureen Crites: My family has always served in the Armed Forces. My father, Chris Madera, who lived with me briefly here in Powell, was a retired Army Lieutenant Colonel who fought in World War II. I grew up understanding service to our great country. I met and married my husband Mike when he was a Navy Lieutenant shortly after he returned from Vietnam. He retired as a Navy Captain. Mike, two of our daughters, Shannon and Amanda, and their husbands all graduated from the United States Naval Academy. Amanda, our youngest daughter, is an Ensign in the United States Navy and has received orders to the USS Hue City CG-66 in Mayport, Florida. Shannon, our oldest daughter, returned last October from a deployment to the Persian Gulf and is currently serving as a Lieutenant in the United States Navy at the United States Naval Academy. Shannon’s husband, Greg Conklin, is a Marine Captain who just last year returned from a tour of duty in Iraq and is serving with the Marine Corps in Washington D.C.  Amanda’s husband, Carl Beierl, is a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps and has received orders to flight training in Pensacola, Florida. In addition, I volunteer as a Blue and Gold Officer for the United States Naval Academy.  I understand the sacrifices of our military members and their families. I am thrilled to see this wonderful Veteran’s Memorial being dedicated in honor of their sacrifices including the ultimate sacrifice made by some of our veterans. I am proud to say I played a small part (along with so many other volunteers) in helping to build this wonderful Veterans Memorial. Now, Powell and Delaware County can honor their veterans.

Butch Knowlton: 38 yrs old, married with two kids who attend Tyler Run Elementary. Resident of Powell for 10 years, serving our citizens in multiple venues – including the Powell Parks and Rec Board, the Organization Committee of Historic Downtown Powell, Inc, a seat in Delaware County Republican Party Central Committee and two unsuccessful runs at a Powell city council seat. I volunteered to work with GPVM because: I deeply appreciate the sacrifices made by each generation of America's citizen soldiers and understand their impact on our history. As a strong community, Powell's citizens appreciate the values of Duty, Honor, Country. It is only appropriate that a beautiful and lasting monument be placed in the heart of our wonderful city. I am proud and honored to have been involved in providing this to current and future generations of our veterans, the City of Powell and Delaware County.

Chuck Sheley, US Navy, WWII: We felt the need for a Veterans Memorial in the Powell and Worthington areas that honored Veterans of all branches of service including MIA's and POW's that served in all of our Nation's conflicts. While our family’s involvement centered on World War I (my father) and World War II (myself and five of my wife Nancy's brothers and brothers-in-law) we felt veterans of all wars should be honored. Some of our Nation's conflicts were popular, some were not, but one thing remained constant and it was that veterans of all the conflicts made sacrifices as asked by our Nation for all of us and should be equally honored and respected and loved.

Dave Taylor, US Army 1966-1972: I was born right after World War II, 1946 to be exact. My father  served in the Army and was the oldest of seven children. His five brothers served in the military also. One in the Army, one in the Navy, one in the Marines, and two served in the Air Force. So I grew up knowing the sacrifices that my father and uncles endured during the different wars.  From World War II, the Korean War and the Lebanon Crisis, they served their country and did not falter whatsoever nor ask for recognition for doing their part to keep our great nation free. I served in the Army Airborne during the Viet Nam era but did not have to see combat. I became a firefighter after my military duty and I come from a family of civil servants, firefighters and police officers who every day served their city and country and again did not ask for recognition for doing their part to keep their city and country safe. For grandfathers, fathers, mothers, uncles, and children who all saw the tragedy and heartaches of war, this memorial is for them. It is a small representation to a large part of their lives that they gave to keep this great country of ours free and safe.

Ed White: I serve on the Board of the Greater Powell Veteran’s Memorial Foundation simply because I am an ordinary American citizen who owes a tremendous debt of gratitude to the men and women who have served this great Nation. I am the son of a US Air Force pilot (Col. Edward T. White, Jr) who served three tours of duty—including 422 combat missions over Southeast Asia, and am fortunate that in the end, our father returned home from his service abroad. Many do not. The Greater Powell Veteran’s Memorial Park was a notion that had to become a reality—this was not something that was “optional”. It is my hope that every person visiting this park will leave with the realization that the men and women of the US military endure great hardship and risk of life so that the rest of us can enjoy the freedoms provided for by their sacrifice. This is a debt that can never really be repaid. Thank you for your service, for your love of this Nation, and for standing tall in the face of danger.