Space Dedicated For War Memorial In Mt. Clemens
MOUNT CLEMENS (WWJ) - A Shelby Township couple is one step closer to their dream of forever memorializing those Macomb County's heroes who paid the ultimate sacrifice during the ongoing global war on terrorism.
The couple, Phil and Norma Jean Randazzo, and the Macomb County Executive's Office have reached an agreement to dedicate space outside of the Macomb County Administration Building in downtown Mount Clemens for the "Heart of America" war memorial. It will commemorate the lives of those Macomb County men and women killed in the line of duty in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere since the war on terror began following September 11, 2001.
Designed by Norma Jean Randazzo, the war memorial will be constructed near the flagpoles at the intersection of Gratiot and Cass Avenues. The nine-foot tall structure will be made of black and grey granite and will consist of a base in the shape of the Pentagon topped off with design elements in the shape of the Twin Towers. The names of Macomb County soldiers killed in action will be engraved in the granite.
"We think the location in the heart of Mount Clemens business district is a very fitting spot for this memorial," said County Executive Mark Hackel. "It will very visible to the thousands of people who work or visit downtown."
Both Phil and Norma Jean Randazzo are U.S. Army veterans. Phil was a decorated soldier who served during Vietnam and Norma Jean was intelligence analyst in the U.S. Army Reserve. He serves as the veteran events coordinator for Shelby Township, while she works for the John D. Dingell VA Hospital in Detroit.
"We are very grateful to the County Executive's Office for providing such a prominent location for this memorial," said Phil Randazzo. "We know the families of our heroes will be very proud that the names of their loved ones will be remembered and celebrated for their great acts of courage." He has been working on the project since 2004.
With a commitment from the County on a location, Phil Randazzo can now proceed with the next step of the project – securing the estimated $10,000 needed to construct it. "Raising the money will not be the problem," he said. "Now that we have a location, the money will come in."
Assisting the Randazzo's on the project is Clinton Township-builder Larry Garrisi, who is also a decorated Vietnam veteran. "This memorial is a special way to remember what these people stood for and what they died for," Garrisi said. "They need to be remembered and not be forgotten."
The Randazzo's and Garrisi hope to have the war memorial constructed and dedicated by next Memorial Day. For more information, please contact Phil Randazzo at 586-739-4046.
