Gold Star Families Memorial Monument Dedication
A final dedication ceremony for the Gold Star Families Memorial Monument was held on Sunday, Dec. 3 at 12:30 p.m. at Riverside Park in Perrysburg.
The monument was officially dedicated on May 26, 2022, after installation but it wasn’t fully completed until this year. The area around the monument is now surrounded by over 100 engraved black granite pavers donated by community members and two black granite benches for easier observation. It also features a pedestal that describes the monument with a tribute to local service member Jerry Bockbrader whose classmates' solicited donations in his memory for the pedestal. Bockbrader was a 1966 graduate of Perrysburg High School who was killed in Vietnam at the age of 20. 
Speaking at the dedication ceremony were Tofer Mora, who shared memories of his father Arthur Mora Jr., who served with the U.S. Army and was killed during active duty in Iraq, and State Rep. Haraz Ghanbari (R-Perrysburg) who served over 17 years in the Army National Guard and the United States Navy Reserve as Lieutenant Commander. Rep. Ghanbari shared words of gratitude about our fallen comrades. 
Tofer Mora, son of Arthur Mora Jr. State Rep. Haraz Ghanbari (R-Perrysburg)
Groundbreaking for the Perrysburg location was held in October of 2019. A committee co-chaired by Perrysburg resident, Veronica Mora and City of Perrysburg Planning and Zoning Administrator, Brodin Walters, worked to bring the Gold Star Families Memorial Monument to Northwest Ohio.
"This journey began nearly four years ago and today we cross the finish line by formally dedicating this monument to the many Gold Star Families in our region and elsewhere," Walters said.
Also serving on the Gold Star Family Memorial Committee were Sanford Bennett, Jo Stockner, Shellisa Bulls, Rob Ross, Gaven Smith, Richard Baranowski and Lloyd Swanson.
Donors for the monument include: Turner Construction/The Lathrop Co., Mosser Construction, Inc., Henry Gurtzweiler, Inc., G-Force Property Maintenance, The Guercio Family, Kuhlman Corp. Concrete, Murphy Tractor & Equipment Co., Great Lakes Rental – Perrysburg, El Carter – Carter Engraving LLC., The Stansley Family, and Perrysburg AFSCME members who donated their time to lay the cement - Chad Baumbarger, Scott Brogan, Manny Carrillo, Jim Fugate, JR Gankosky, Joe Hollon, Craig Hufford, Chris Kopp, Justin Kopp, Pete Laine, Sean Molter, Justin Santchi, Jody Sheets, Corey Whiting, and Matt Zeigler.
Created by WWII veteran, Hershel “Woody” Williams in 2013, the Gold Star Families Memorial Monument honors the families of servicemen and servicewomen who have sacrificed their lives while serving in the military. 
