J.M. SIMPSON: VETERANS WANT PIERCE COUNTY VETS HONORED >>>

Joe Zelazny and Chuck O'Donahue are determined that Pierce County military veterans not be forgotten.

"We are veterans, and we want all veterans honored," said Zelazny, a World War II veteran and former prisoner of war, as he walked the grounds of the New Tacoma War Memorial Park. "A veteran is a veteran and should be honored."

The memorial park is located at Jackson Avenue and Highway 16.  Near the intersection is a marble monument honoring those who served during World War II.

"I want all veterans from all wars honored here," repeated Zelazny, who heads up the Veterans Memorial Committee. "This honors only those veterans from the Second World War," he continued as he walked around the existing memorial.

"We want a wall that honors all military members from Pierce County."

The two men are working toward the creation of a Wall of Honor.

"We're not asking a lot," added O'Donahue, Cold War veteran and club manager for Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10018. "We're simply asking to honor all who have lived in this county."

To that end, Zelazny and O'Donahue have worked to bring attention to the creation of the wall honoring those Pierce County veterans who have served in every military engagement from World War I to the present.

The memorial will be located in a serene setting in the memorial park where family, friends and local residents can visit and honor those individuals who have served. The name, rank, branch of service, foreign service, and any other submitted information for each veteran would be etched into a six-by-six inch granite tile and placed on the wall. Any veteran who served honorably and is or ever has been a resident of Pierce County is eligible to be honored.

After the completion of the Wall of Honor, the two soldiers will turn their energies to building a monument honoring those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

"We want to create an 'Ultimate Sacrifice Wall' honoring those from Pierce County who gave their lives in defense of this country," said Zelazny.

The cost per title is $50.

Individuals who wish to contribute or obtain an application for a tile should contact Zelazny at (253) 752-8266 or O'Donahue at (253) 759-0817.

Photo:  Joe Zelazny and Chuck O'Donahue are determined to see that all Pierce County veterans are honored. Photo by J.M. Simpson