COLUMBUS, Ohio (Nov. 20, 2024) – The Linden War Memorial, which honors veterans of World War I, World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War has been relocated to Linden Park and restored thanks to the help of many around the Columbus community.
Columbus REALTORS® used a Placemaking Grant of $7,500 from the National Association of REALTORS® to join the city’s efforts in rebuilding the memorial - which had suffered damages on two separate occasions - and moving it to a more inviting space in the Linden community for its members to visit and honor their own heroes.
Our 2024 Columbus REALTORS® Executive Committee and members of our Government Affairs Forum attended the Rededication Ceremony for the Linden War Memorial on November 19, along with local government officials who were partners in the project: Columbus Mayor Andrew J. Ginther, Councilmember Emmanuel Remy, Councilmember Nancy Day-Achauer and others.
Veterans and active service members – including the National Guard’s 121st Air Refueling Wing Honor Guard, AMVETS Post 89 Honor Guard, and Fort Hayes JROTC - attended the ceremony to rededicate the memorial that had initially been dedicated in 1919. Columbus Police and Fire Pipe and Drums honored all members by playing the songs of each of the Armed Forces. The Placemaking Grant used in the project was designed by NAR to ensure local REALTOR® Associations are partnering with other neighboring organizations to plan, organize, implement and maintain placemaking projects in their communities.
“REALTORS® live, work and volunteer in their communities and take immense pride in our work to make Central Ohio neighborhoods better places to live, work and raise a family,” said Columbus REALTORS® President Scott Hrabcak “This grant gives us a tangible, immediate opportunity to identify and address areas in Columbus that need enhancement and revitalization and can be used for the greater good.”
At a meeting earlier this year, the Columbus City Council approved just over $90,000 to fix and move the memorial to its current home at Linden Park at 1350 Briarwood Ave. The grant provided by Columbus REALTORS® was used specifically to lay the concrete serving as the base of the monument at Linden Park.
The memorial, which was previously located at the Cleveland Avenue and Westerville Road split has been damaged after being struck by two vehicles, once in 2019 and again in 2021.
“We relocated the monument and restored it with the reverence and respect it deserves,” said Columbus Mayor Andrew J. Ginther. “With the full and enthusiastic participation of our neighbors and partners throughout Linden and beyond… following the community's lead, listening to our neighbors.”
The Columbus Department of Development reached out to Veterans and members of the community who agreed that the relocation of the memorial was in the best interest of the city and those it honor when making decisions during the process.
“Today, the Linden War Memorial is, as it should be: a solemn gathering place for our community and a fitting and proper testament to our veterans,” said Ginther. “Moving forward we know that Columbus will always protect this monument and ensure it is given the attention, care and respect it so deeply deserves.
Hrabcak believes placemaking can help foster healthier, more social and economically viable communities. “[Placemaking] creates places where people feel a strong stake in their neighborhoods and are committed to making things better.”
At the Rededication Ceremony, Mayor Ginther closed by saying, “It's so wonderful today to be part of this event, for this community collectively to pour back into Linden what Linden has poured overwhelmingly into our city, into our state, into our nation.”
