BRICK BY BRICK

Article Photos

WARREN - World War II veteran and bricklayer Mike Marinelli of Warren has been helping build a brick wall this week that will surround the perimeter of a memorial to honor all veterans.

Marinelli, who is retired, said he and his three brothers all served in World War II; one brother died in the Philippines in December 1944.

''I wanted to help and donate my time wherever I was needed,'' Marinelli said.

The bricks were delivered Thursday to the site of the Trumbull County Veterans Memorial in Memorial Park in downtown Warren. Part of the memorial also will have a Wall of Honor, which will be a tribute to veterans of any war.

Groundbreaking for the $300,000 project took place on Memorial Day. The centerpiece of the memorial will be a life-size bronze World War II statue done by New York sculptor Robert Eccleston.

Designed by Baker, Bednar and Associates, the project is scheduled to be completed by Veterans Day. It is being coordinated by Trumbull 100, Warren Western Reserve Veterans' Memorial Association and the Tribune Chronicle.

Bricks on the ground level and inscribed with the names of veterans are available for purchase in honor or in memory of any veteran. Information on each brick can include the name, branch of service, rank, years of service, birth and death dates, commendations, specific conflict, and name of military unit.

Members of the local Bricklayers Local 43 AFL-CIO, which includes retirees and others who are working other jobs, have been volunteering their time to help lay bricks at the site.

Brothers Dan and Jim Litz, both of Southington, volunteered to honor family members who served in the military in the past and those currently overseas.

Dan Litz served in the military from 1963 to 1967. He said a brick was purchased for their father, Anthony Litz of Leavittsburg, a self-employed bricklayer who served in World War II.

''I lost friends in Vietnam. Our dad served in the South Pacific during World War II. This is one way we can help to honor all the veterans,'' Litz said.

Both brothers also have sons serving in the military in Afghanistan.

Dan Litz said the memorial is going to be much larger than he expected.

Gary Lemaster of Champion, another volunteer who served from 1966 to 1978 in the U.S. Army Airborne, said he will be back at the site.

''I'm very proud of my military service and am very proud of all our vets. This memorial is important for the veterans,'' he said.

Rob Vesey, superintendent with Jack Gibson Construction, said the volunteers have been to the site four and five times helping with the bricks and have helped get the project ahead of schedule.

City workers Bob Plant and George Gania, both with Warren's Operations Department, said whenever the bricklayers have time or are not working anywhere else, they stop at the site to help.

''We are doing whatever we can to help since it is a city park,'' Plant said.

Gania said when the bricklayers can't make it due to their job, he and the other city workers help.

Shelley Taylor of Trumbull 100 who was at the site seeing how the project is proceeding said she was ecstatic with how the work is proceeding on the project.

''We appreciate all the workers for what they are doing,'' Taylor said.

Sue Shafer, community events coordinator at the Tribune Chronicle, said there are 600 bricks left for purchase for enscription. To order a brick, which are available for $50 and $100, or for more information, call Shafer at 330-841-1600, Ext. 696.

The Tribune Chronicle also is planning a Web site with photos and biographical information on veterans and their service history which will be searchable. The Web site will serve as a locator for the names as they appear on the wall.

bcoupland@tribtoday.com

Member Comments

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JDLitz

07-11-08 8:15 AM »Report Abuse

The quality of bricklayers chosen, or who volunteered are second to none. Yes, there is a slight bias considering Dan Litz is my father and Jim Litz is my uncle. It is only fitting that the "Litz boys" are apart of this construction while my cousin (Jim's son Joel) and I are deployed to Afghanistan. Its a memorable moment reading an article of my father and uncle "hooked to the plow" as I am "hooked to the plow" serving my second tour in Southwest Asia (Iraq/Afghanistan). Jason D. Litz Master Sergeant United States Army

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