The Rochester-Avon Historical Society (RAHS) will host a rededication ceremony for the newly restored World War II Honor Roll on July 16 at 6 p.m. on the City of Rochester’s civic campus, 400 Sixth Street, near the Rochester Municipal Park. In 2024, RAHS received a Community Enhancement Grant from the Community Foundation of Greater Rochester to repair and repaint the Honor Roll, as well as establish an ongoing maintenance fund for the monument. This project follows the historical society’s 2002 restoration of the Honor Roll in which the entire monument was taken out of storage and rebuilt on city property.
“This latest restoration effort has truly been a community effort,” said Tiffany Dziurman, RAHS president. “We are grateful to the Community Foundation, the City of Rochester, the Blue Star Mothers, the Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm, and so many others who have enhanced this project through their financial donations, volunteer hours, and willingness to help maintain the World War II Honor Roll and create a beautiful space around it for people to come and pay their respects to the over 1,000 Rochester area men and women whose names are listed on the monument.”
The names on the Honor Roll represent several branches of the United States military including the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corp., Coast Guard, Merchant Marines, and the Civil Affairs branch of the Army. The rededication will unveil added features to the space including, a special marker for Sgt. Sparks -- a member of the U.S. Marines’ Devil Dogs program, an outdoor exhibit panel, and more.
The event is free and open to the public. Rain or shine. Please consider bringing a lawn chair or blanket to sit on. Water bottles will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. We encourage you to bring your own. An ice cream treat will also be available while supplies last.
https://www.rochesteravonhistoricalsociety.org/events/
Photo: Carla Gallusser
