Leader Staff
Contributed Photo Shown at the new sign for Veteran’s Memorial Park and Ballfield in Gresham are, from left, Guy “Took” Moede, Ken Beyer, John Gallon, Henry Rudesill, Jed Huebner, Raymond Rigsby, Jim Carroll and Art Bahr.
Military veterans in the Gresham area have a new place to call their own.
Gresham village leaders have renamed Riverside Park and rededicated it as Veteran’s Memorial Park and Ballfield.
The dedication took place during Fourth of July ceremonies attended by veterans and other community leaders. The park already hosts annual Memorial Day services and contains Gresham’s Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Village Board member Jim Carroll said he pushed for the renaming, which was unanimously approved by the Village Board.
“There was really not much going on for the veterans, and the park was just sitting there,” he said. “I thought, ‘Well, let’s do something for our veterans.’”
The local American Legion Post 390 has about 100 members from throughout the area.
Carroll, a U.S. Navy veteran of the Vietnam War era, said he was pleased to see the park renamed to honor those serving in the military — or soon to serve.
“We did it for our veterans of the past, present and future,” he said. “That’s the way it should be.”