vietnammemorial

The Covington Board of Education voted Thursday to allow the Vietnam War Memorial to be moved form Mienken Field to near the Latonia Baptist Church.

Local veterans attended Thursday’s meeting to make a request to move the monument, arguing that it is not seen well tucked away in a small park behind Meinken’s left field wall. 

The monument was originally placed at Meinken in 1989, board attorney Mary Ann Stewart said. When the school district acquired the ball field, it assumed ownership of the monument. 

The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6095 and American Legion Post 203 will handle the movement of the monument, and both organizations will be asking the public to purchase pavers that will lead up to and surround it. 

The new location is expected to have two benches, which will be available for sponsorship, and two flagpoles. 

Jerry Bamberger, a former city commissioner and Latonia resident, said that the organizations hope to move the 3×5 memorial within the next three months. The change will make the monument more visible to the public and will be closer to the Korean War memorial at Ritte’s Corner, Bamberer said.

“Right now, the visibility is not what it needs to be,” said Bamberger. “There are 30 names on that memorial, and they should have more recognition for their sacrifice.”

Another veteran, who lost his brother in the war, spoke eloquently about putting the memorial where people can see it.

“After 50 years, don’t you think it’s time?,” he asked the board.

Stewart said Latonia Baptist has to get together with the board so that legal papers can be drawn up.

No agreement for school resource officers

There is yet to be an agreement with the Kenton County Sheriff’s Office to serve as school resource officers in city schools, Stewart said.

The sheriff’s office has filled that role for the past several school years.

Stewart said that school administrators have been trained to handle school resource officers’ duties if needed.

Other notes:

District assessment coordinator Bill Grein also gave the board the unofficial results of a college and career readiness analysis for the seniors who graduated this year. Superintendent Alvin Garrison pointed out that the increase from 42 last year to 55 this year was the highest the district had scored to date. Grein cautioned that the numbers had to be further evaluated before they will be considered final numbers.

Written by Patricia A. Scheyer, RCN contributor

Top photo: Vietnam Memorial ceremony in 1989 (via Kenton Co. Public Library)