VERMILION — A new place of remembrance now stands at Showse Park, where city officials, veterans, families and community members gathered Monday for the dedication of the Showse Park Veterans Memorial Plaza.
The Memorial Day ceremony marked another step in the transformation of Showse Park, where new recreational spaces, gathering areas and memorial features are being brought together as part of a larger effort to reshape the park for future generations.
Jeff Lucas, president of Vermilion City Council, helped lead the ceremony and has been one of the driving forces behind the Showse Park revitalization project.
Lucas opened the ceremony by welcoming those in attendance and describing the new plaza as a permanent place of “remembrance, gratitude and reflection for generations to come.”
“Today is about courage, service, sacrifice and remembering the brave men and women who gave absolutely everything in the defense of our nation and our freedoms,” Lucas said.
The ceremony included patriotic music, the national anthem, an invocation, the Pledge of Allegiance, remarks from veterans and officials and the raising of a large American flag on the new 60-foot flagpole.
A Memorial Connected to the Future
Lucas said the location of the memorial was intentional. The plaza sits near the new playground area, creating a visible connection between the sacrifices of the past and the children and families who will use the park in the years ahead.
He said one day, a child may look up and ask why the flagpole is so large or what the memorial means. Because of the plaza, Lucas said, parents and grandparents will have a place to explain the meaning of Memorial Day, service, sacrifice, patriotism and freedom.
“This memorial is not only about honoring the past,” Lucas said. “It’s about shaping our future.”
Jacob Smith, executive director of the Lorain County Veterans Service Commission, also spoke during the ceremony and helped raise the flag.
Smith said the commission supported the project because of what the American flag has represented for generations.
“For generations, the American flag has stood for one thing: freedom and hope,” Smith said.
He said the flag will serve as a marker for Vermilion along Lake Erie and as a reminder that the community honors the flag and what it represents. After the flag was raised to the top of the pole, it was lowered to half-staff in observance of Memorial Day.
Malcolm Williams, a Navy veteran and commander of AMVETS Post 22, also addressed the crowd and reminded those gathered of the National Moment of Remembrance, held at 3 p.m. each Memorial Day. He asked the community to remember not only those who gave their lives in service, but also the Gold Star families who live with that loss.
Mayor Issues Proclamation
Mayor Russ Owens delivered remarks focused on the meaning of Memorial Day and the debt owed to those who never returned home from service.
Owens, whose father served as a World War II Marine, said he thinks of the sacrifices made by service members whenever he sees the American flag. He said the men and women remembered on Memorial Day were sons, daughters, spouses, siblings, friends and neighbors.
“They were just kids from the neighborhood,” Owens said. “People who were loved, and who in turn loved our country.”
Owens said the nation can never fully repay the debt owed to fallen service members, but communities can continue to remember them and honor their sacrifice.
The mayor also issued a proclamation recognizing the dedication of the Showse Park Veterans Memorial Plaza on May 25, 2026. The proclamation stated that the memorial will preserve the stories and legacy of the people it honors and ensure their service continues to inspire future generations.
Community Effort Recognized
Several community partners helped make the memorial possible, including the Lorain County Veterans Service Commission, the Vermilion/Holland-Bond VFW and local supporters who contributed to the flagpole, pavers, walkway, electrical work and other parts of the project.
Lucas also thanked those involved in the broader Showse Park effort, including Mark Weisenberger, committee members, volunteers, local donors and others who helped move the project from an idea into a visible part of the park.
He said the work is not finished. Future phases are expected to include additional improvements at the park, including work tied to the sports complex and restroom facilities.
Lucas also said residents who were not part of the first round of memorial pavers will have another opportunity to place orders so more veterans can be recognized at the plaza.
The dedication ended with the American flag flying over Showse Park, linking the new memorial with a park being reshaped for children, families and the community’s future.
Lucas said the plaza should stand as a tribute to courage, sacrifice, patriotism and service.
“May every child who grows up here understand that the American flag flying above represents generations of sacrifice,” Lucas said.