Archive: News

Ithaca Mayor Carolyn Peterson presented a proclamation that declared that in honor of Dewitt Park being 'restored to it's former glory' that Saturday was officially declared 'Dewitt Park Restoration and Rededication Day'.  She presented the proclamation to Restoration Committee Chair Holly Hollingsworth, who led the effort to restore the park and monuments honoring Tompkins County armed service people who gave their lives for their country in the Civil War, both World Wars, The Korean War, and the Vietnam War.

But Peterson wasn't finished.  She read a second proclamation that ended,  "Wheras the City of Ithaca and Tompkins County owe Holly Hollingsworth a dept which only a big 'thanks can repay, additionally I Carolyn K. Peterson, Mayor of the City of Ithaca, do also proclaim today Holly Hollingsworth Day,'"  She presented it to honor his dream, commitment, and leadership that resulted in the restoration of the park.


Hollingsworth was taken aback by the honor.  "Too many people have put too much effort into it to name the day for me," he says.  "We've had the bricklayers who volunteered all their labor.  They probably saved us $10,000.  There are so many people."

Those people and more were present at an all-day celebration with the dedication ceremony for the spruced up monuments as the highlight.  The Salvation Army Band played, Cornell ROTC's chorus, Command voice, sand the National Anthem and 'God Bless America,' and the Finger Lakes Pipe Band played Amazing Grace.  The invocation and benediction were delivered by FIrst Presbyterian Church Reverand James Henry, and Groton Town Historian Rosemarie Tucker was the featured speaker.

Tucker humanized the 251 names etched in the Dewitt Park monuments, remembering a fallen friend and urging the crowd to remember friends and family who gave their lives for their country.


Tompkins County Legislature Vice Chair Leslie McBean-Clairborne also presented a proclamation honoring the fallen.  Veterans groups and ROTC members were dressed in uniforms from many wars starting with the Revolutionary War Continental Marines First Company, and going all the way to the present.  The Dryden Veteran's Memorial Home Ritual Team gave a rifle salute after wreathes were place at each memorial in the park.  Former Infantry First Lieutenant Mike Moran was the MC.

"Holly and I talked about the ceremony and it was approved by the committee," says Moran.  "He wrote out the order of the agenda, so all I had to do was read and talk.  The ROTC brigades were really great about stepping up.  They are already trained.  It started on time and ended early -- you can't ask for better!"


Perfect weather helped attract hundreds of people to view exhibits at tables, flags, color guards, and to attend the ceremony.  140 family members of fallen soldiers were given a place of honor at the front, and attendees were treated to a beautiful and informative 38 page program.

This has been a busy time for local veterans, starting with the 19th annual watchfire celebration in Lansing's Myers Park on September 25th to celebrate POW/MIA Recognition Day.  Last July Governor David Patterson signed a law naming New york Stare ROute 38 'Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway of Valor.'  On October 17th veterans across the region will participate in The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway of Valor Tribute Ride.  The 98 mile ride will start at 10am in Owego, and go all the way up to Sterling.

Veterans actually clean up Dewitt Park weekly in an attempt to keep up with the abuse and disrespectful treatment it has suffered.  But weekly cleanups were not sufficient.  Hollingsworth and his team started the project two and a half years ago in response to vandalism to the park and monuments.  Organizers say that Bikes, cars, trucks, military vehicles and helicopters will participate.


The park suffers drug and alcohol abusers who litter the park with drug paraphernalia, and litter, and graffiti that is constantly marring the monuments.  Bricklayers from Local 3 removed the walkways in the memorial courtyard and rest them, furnishing materials as well as labor.  They also calked the deteriorating memorials, and volunteers repaired the base of the World War I memorial with 15 bags of donated concrete.  Benches and lamp posts were pressure washed and repainted, and mulching was done by volunteers from Vietnam Veterans of America 377 and Sons of Union Veterans.


Hollingsworth says that there is more work to be done.  "We estimated we were going to need over $17,000," he says.  "With all the volunteer help we've brought it down.  We have more to do next year.  We're going to put some lighting on the flag, and we're going to get the rust off the monument.  That could cost us maybe another five or ten thousand.  We'll probably hit the 17 before we're done."

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