Sycamore Township residents and businesses have until Friday, Oct. 16, to purchase commemorative bricks, pavers or plaques at the Veterans Memorial in Bechtold Park.
The Sycamore Township Veterans Memorial Commission announced the deadline on Sunday, Sept. 20. Items ordered by Oct. 16 will be installed at the memorial in time for Veterans Day, Nov. 11.
The memorial sits at 4312 Sycamore Road. It was dedicated on Memorial Day, May 25, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony that followed the annual Silverton–Deer Park–Sycamore Township Memorial Day Parade. Groundbreaking took place roughly a year earlier, in October 2025.
The commission described the new round of orders as a chance for community members to honor veterans with a permanent tribute at the park. Residents can choose among bricks, pavers and plaques, each bearing a personalized inscription. Order details and pricing are listed on the township's commemorative opportunities page.
Trustee Tracy Schwegmann signaled in her May 2026 letter to residents in the Summer 2026 Sycamore Quarterly that community participation would continue beyond the initial build. "With initial construction complete, there will always be ongoing ways for you to honor and recognize those who have served our country," Schwegmann wrote.
The township's Board of Trustees took a related step on Sept. 1, unanimously approving Resolution 2026-066, a notice of tax-exempt bond funding ownership related to the memorial project. Chairman Tom Weidman, Vice Chairman Tracy Kellums and Trustee Schwegmann all voted in favor, according to meeting minutes. Administrator Greg Bickford presented the resolution.
The memorial project has moved quickly. Less than a year passed between the October 2025 groundbreaking and the May 2026 dedication. The Oct. 16 deadline marks the first publicly announced cutoff for a new batch of commemorative items since the memorial opened.
Residents who want to place an order can visit the township's commemorative opportunities page or contact the township directly for more information.
Upcoming
- Friday, Oct. 16: Deadline for commemorative brick, paver and plaque orders at the Sycamore Township Veterans Memorial, Bechtold Park, 4312 Sycamore Road.
- Wednesday, Nov. 11: Veterans Day. New commemorative items to be installed by this date.
