Iconic Dearborn Fountain Tumbles to Make Room for War Memorial

DEARBORN, MI – An iconic but inoperable marble fountain was removed from the front of Henry Ford Centennial Library Monday to make room for a new Veterans Park and War Memorial.

City officials expect the installation — which will celebrate the achievements of veterans, honor all branches of the service and pay respect to those who sacrificed for our country — will be ready for dedication after the annual Memorial Day parade on May 30.

City officials said the fountain in front of the library, located at 16301 Michigan Ave., was too expensive to repair. It has not worked since 2011, when a pump failed, and estimates to fully restore the marble fountain were estimated at the time to cost more than a $1 million, city officials said.

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“This is an important milestone and demonstrates that the service of Dearborn’s veterans is an important part of our community’s history that should be preserved and shared with each generation,” Dearborn Mayor John B. O’Reilly Jr., who spearheaded the initiative, said in a statement.

Added Sean Green, commander of the Dearborn Allied War Veterans Council (DAWVC):

“Almost 4,000 veterans currently live in Dearborn, hundreds more travel here daily to work or attend university.”

Twenty-four cherry trees will be planted within the next few weeks in the park. The four black obelisks of the War Memorial, located now at City Hall Park, will be featured prominently at the new Veterans Park and War Memorial.

Other key design components are memorial walkways, etched and lighted glass panels, benches, and green spaces. In addition, the flags of all five branches of the service, plus a battlefield cross and an eternal flame, will keep the focus on those who died in service.

The location in front of the library ensures that the park and memorial is in an extremely visible spot to those traveling on Michigan Avenue and the tens of thousands of people that use Henry Ford Centennial each year, and indicates that the park and memorial is focused on educating the public about service and sacrifice.

The new park and memorial will also be the site for ceremonies, like the solemn service that takes place following the Memorial Day Parade, and for the annual Flag Day ceremony and other commemorations.

The process of creating a landmark Veterans Park and War Memorial has been ongoing for years, once the City committed to selling City Hall to Artspace for what is now City Hall Artspace Lofts, a live, work and exhibit facility for artists. The City of Dearborn no longer owns the property on which the current War Memorial sits at City Hall Park.

Dearborn organizes the oldest Memorial Day Parade in Michigan and will mark its 92nd year in 2016. It is also one of the largest parades in the country, featuring more than 80 groups each year. The city and the DAWVC also present ceremonies on Flag Day, Korean War Armistice Day and on Veterans Day.

There are multiple memorials throughout the city, including ones at Fordson High School, Dearborn High School, the grounds of the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center, the grounds of Bryant Branch Library, and inside the Dearborn Administrative Center, among others.

The park and memorial is made possible through a substantial contribution from AK Steel. The architect is Neumann/Smith Architecture and the general contractor is Tooles Contracting Group LLC.