Westfield memorial undergoing renovations to continue lasting impact
What started more than a decade ago as a temporary garden of crosses made to honor Indiana’s fallen soldiers in the front yard of Donald and Carol Peed turned into a permanent memorial at 401 N. Union St., Westfield. The Fallen Hoosier Heroes Memorial for Enduring Freedom, created in 2002, is now undergoing another renovation.
“Since that time the memorial has been relocated, rebuilt and dedicated to our Indiana Gold Star mothers and families. Now, after all these years, the memorial once again was in need of a facelift to keep our heroes’ memories alive,” said Bill Doss, an Air Force veteran of the Vietnam War.
Doss said he showed up one day years ago, met the Peeds and has been working on the projects since.
“This has driven me to step up and help veterans and their families,” Doss said. “I’m hopeful in the future we can get the word out. It’s their memorial, not ours. We need their help and input to make it an everlasting memorial.”
Doss said the memorial honors those killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“We don’t want to go into other campaigns,” he said.
Background
The memorial was started by Vietnam Veteran Command Sgt. Major Donald E. Peed after the tragedies of Sept. 11, 2001.
“He wanted to go to Iraq,” said his wife, Carol. “He wanted to be there if the guys needed somebody to talk to. He was told no, so he came up with the idea of the crosses.”
In 2002, Peed began making crosses with Carol’s help in his Westfield home for the men and women who lost their lives in the war on terror.
“He made them and we painted them together,” she said.
Carol said the memorial had 66 white crosses when Donald, 67, died from a heart attack in September 2005.
“He was a very patriotic person,” she said. “When we put the first cross in the ground, we never dreamed it would amount to what it has become.”
In order to transition the memorial from a temporary one to a more permanent honor, the Peed family received the blessings of the City of Westfield, Hamilton County and the State of Indiana. To make the memorial permanent, new, larger crosses were constructed. Each was set by an Indiana limestone marker. Five flags representing the armed service branches and three flags – the United States, Indiana and Gold Star Mothers flags – were be added to the site.
“Thirty percent of Gold Star families know about this. They come here to remember and reflect on their loved ones,” Doss said.
The memorial was formally dedicated on June 14, 2009.
“It’s just amazing,” Carol said. “If I see people out here, I come out and talk with them. A lot of them are family members. It is really rewarding to me to talk to them, answer questions they ask.”
Carol said the memorial has had no issues with vandalism and pedestrians are “very respectful” when passing by on the sidewalk.
Renovating the memorial
As a result of the harsh winters and time, Carol said the crosses began deteriorating and the memorial committee felt it was not a fair honoring of the deceased soldiers.
“Some were starting to rot,” Carol said.
“We took them down and are trying plaques for now. It’s a lot of work,” Doss said. “The crosses made a big impact, but I feel just as much of an impact with the stones. It opens it up more.”
Doss said the 206 white crosses have been removed and replaced with new markers as the committee prepares for the future.
“We want to help get the word out across the state that the Fallen Hoosier Heroes Memorial does exist and it would like our Gold Star Families, OEF/OIF Veterans and friends to join the board for their memorial,” he said.
Doss said the future is uncertain as the memorial committee has a vision to create a unique memorial in a larger area.
“With 206 kids, we’ve run out of space. Two hundred and forty-eight have died on duty while serving … We don’t want to see any more die,” he said. “We’d like to find ground to put it on. We’d like to keep it here in this area.”
Doss said the memorial was created and upgraded thanks to volunteers and the community.
“Money is raised by people who find and stumble on our website (www.fallenhoosiers.com) and fundraiser rides,” he said.
To assist with the renovation, Westfield VFW Post No. 10207 provided funds to remove the old tree that was falling apart and endangering visitors and pedestrians walking by on the sidewalk. Doss said the VFW also purchased the slate slabs being used as the base for the stone markers which hold the brass plates for each fallen hero. New sod was laid to be level with the slate base, making it easier to maintain.
“The Westfield Veterans of Foreign Wars donated a substantial amount to make it what it is today,” Doss said.
Dennis Zavada, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, assists with the maintenance and care of the memorial.
“We’ve had help from a variety of different people. There is a lot of good people volunteering – veterans, non-veterans, kids and the elderly,” he said.
Zavada said mementos left by family members were collected and will be returned once all renovations are finished.
The first cross placed was in memory of U.S. Marine Sgt. Jeannette L. Winters, 25, of Gary. Zavada said the memorial contains two Westfield residents – Sgt. Gerald J. Cassidy and Army Pfc. Robert W. Murray Jr.
“I feel camaraderie with them. I served in the Marines and my son is in the Marines. These are some of the best people, some of the very best Indiana has, and we should remember them. We’d like the families to know we care about them,” he said. “They chose to defend our country. I try to do what I can – it’s just a small thing.”
