Representatives from several local groups gathered Wednesday in order to further beautify the Veterans Memorial Park at Eighth and Bateman streets in Perry, and their efforts brought forth a field of poppies to honor our war dead.
Upgrades to the park began last May, when flagstones were replaced. This spring has brought flower beds, with decorative lighting planned in the coming weeks.
The 100+ People for Perry charity group donated $7,200 to the Perry School Foundation last May and the Bock Family Foundation donated $4,000 to the group in November in order to help beautify the Veterans Memorial, including creating the field of poppies and enhanced lighting.
After Wednesday’s labors, the flower beds will bloom with red and white cone flowers and blue salvia alongside the shorter-lived poppies. Gardeners representing the Perry School Foundation Wednesday were Linda Andorf, Linda Kaufman and Tom Lipovac.
Local veterans were represented by James and Patricia Cornelius of Perry, who tilled the beds, and Donald and Laura Richardson of Minburn, who donated the poppies.
Can lights with programmable colors will soon be installed at the foot of the steles.
On Monday, May 29 a Memorial Day service will be held in the park at 1 p.m., according to a VFW spokesperson. Prior to the holiday, allies of the VFW and Elks will gather Saturday, May 20 at 10 a.m. place flags on veterans’ graves in Violet Hill Cemetery in Perry.
