Committee close to goal for statue of soldier at former Armory
Photo by Tom Rivers: Some members of the Company F Memorial Committee are pictured when the Orleans County Legislature presented a “commendation” for the committee’s work to build a memorial in honor of the soldiers who trained at the former Armory in Medina. Pictured, include committee members, from left: Wayne Hale, Legislature Chairman David Callard, committee chairman Bill Menz, and committee members Cathy Fox and Lynne Menz.
MEDINA – A committee that has been working for several years to raise money for a bronze statue of a soldier at the former Armory, now a YMCA, is close to reaching its fund-raising goal.
Several organizations have made sizable donations recently, including $10,000 from the VFW Lincoln Post in Medina. Bill Menz, chairman of the Company F Memorial, said the committee has commissioned an artist, Brian Porter, who will make the bronze statue.
A 7-foot-high statue of a soldier that will go on top of an existing stone base that is 6 feet, 10 inches in height. That stone monument base was dedicated in 2008 and 550 names of local soldiers who fought in wars on behalf of the United States. The soldiers enlisted and trained at the Medina Armory for conflicts from 1898 to 1945 including the Spanish-American War, Mexican-American, World War I and World War II.
Menz was hoping to have the statue in place by October 2017, the 100th anniversary of Company F’s service in World War I. But it now looks like it could take up to two years before the statue is ready, Menz advised the Orleans County Legislature on Wednesday when he and other committee leaders accepted a “Commendation” award from the Legislature for leading the efforts with the memorial.
“The Orleans County Legislature commends the great work of many for the Medina Armory and Company F Memorial which will forever represent the freedoms of past and for future generations to enjoy as a result of the COURAGE, DUTY, VALOR, VIRTUE and HONOR of the Boys of Company F,” the commendation reads.
The current fund-raising campaign includes repairs to two of the panels on the monument from 2008 that were damaged due to vandalism, and will make some name corrections and additions, Menz said. A new 30-foot-high flag pole will also be included.
Menz welcomes donations for the project. Friends and supporters can send tax deductible contributions with the checks made out to the Medina Sandstone Society/care of Company F Memorial Fund, PO Box 522, Medina, NY 14103. Click here for more information.
Several groups have recently donated to the project including:
Members of VFW Post 1483, including Jim Freas (center), present a check for $10,000 for the Company F Memorial project.
Veterans who work at Saint-Gobain Adfors in Albion present a check for $200 for the statue. Pictured, from left, include: Ron Raglan, Company F Chairman Bill Menz, James Olles, Company F Secretary/Treasurer Cathy Fox and Bob Eckert.
Mark Irwin, Medina Lion’s president, presented $300 to Menz from the Lions Club to go towards the memorial.
St. Mary’s Archery Club members present a check to Company F Memorial chairman, Bill Menz & Secretary/Treasurer Cathy Fox. From left, members Jeff Pask, Company F Chairman Bill Menz, Alan “Tiny” Hackenberg, Steve Coville, Mike Walsh, Company F Secretary/Treasurer Cathy Fox and Joe Martillotta.
The Archery Club donated $700 for the memorial. Another member of the Archery Club added $300 to make the total donation an even $1,000.
