The New Wellsville Honor Roll

Thursday - June 17: Wellsville's Honor Roll Committee met this past Thursday evening at the VFW Post. A computer generated picture, seen above, was unveiled of the proposed, new Wellsville Honor Roll. On it will be a list of names of all Wellsville area residents that has ever served our country in the military from World War I up to the present day. It will list the names of all the unsung heroes that proudly served in the military, came home and got on with their lives. It will include the names of those area sons and daughters that made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of this great nation.

Years ago there was a bill board size Honor Roll memorial next to the old City Hall on Main St. It was erected in 1943. It is believed that it was removed for the construction of Shoub Towers. No one knows what ever became of it and all that remains are pictures. They are located in the River Museum Military Room, Village Hall, VFW Post 5647 and American Legion Post 70.

It has been the dream of Wellsville's George Crews for a few years now to recreate that Honor Roll. Crews enlisted the help of Debbie Koffel. Together they got other members to join in to make that dream come true. Once they decided to go ahead Crews and Koffel have gotten permission from State and Village officials, plus Greg Thrasher, to have the Honor Roll erected on some of the land in Phyllis Thrasher Park. When built it will be located between the Route 7 overpass and the on ramp to Route 7, facing Route 45. It will be a brick & block structure that will last for hundreds of years declaring for all to see that Wellsville is indeed proud of all of their veterans.

Crews stated the goal is to raise $20,000 to honor all Wellsville area veterans with this memorial. He and Koffel are preparing a letter campaign to solicit funds. A bank account has been established with beginning donations already deposited. Mike Tice of R. Tice Builders has volunteered to dig the footers and pour the concrete. Jeff Campbell of Campbell Signs has donated design work and suggestions. Anyone interested in donating money, their skills or other information can contact Crews at 330-532-3910 or Koffel at 330-385-3061 or 330-532-1553.

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