Veterans' memorial plaque installed

BELLEVUE — The city of Bellevue recently installed the Veterans Memorial Plaque in honor of all alumni and teachers at the former Thompson High School who were veterans of the Armed Forces. The brass plaque was furnished by the trustees of the Thompson Alumni Loan Fund. Credit goes to trustee James Andrews, Class of 1952, for creating the detailed drawing of Thompson School so that the drawing could be forged into a brass cast metal plaque. This plaque was made at Gillmor Foundry in Old Fort, which is known for the casting of historical cannons used in the movie industry. The owner is C. Robert Gillmor, son of Thompson graduate Mary Santos Gillmor, class of 1953. Bellevue has transformed the former location of the Bellevue Jr. High School into a beautiful park at 216 North St. The Thompson Alumni is grateful to the city, through its Mayor Kevin Strecker and its street department, for installing the Thompson Veterans Memorial near the flag pole previously furnished by the Thompson Alumni. The flag poles were installed by the city, with the center flag pole displaying the American flag, commemorating the Bellevue Schools that stood at that location. The flagpoles on either side were placed there in recognition of York and Thompson schools, which were consolidated with the Bellevue Schools in 1968. The York School Alumni has a plaque near its pole to honor its veterans and flies a flag with a yellow star representing mothers whose children were killed in action. The Thompson School Alumni fly a flag on its pole with a blue star representing mothers whose children are currently serving in the military. The Blue Star Mothers have a local Lake Erie Shores chapter. The flags are cared for by the members of the Bellevue Fallen Soldiers Monument, which is within walking distance of Central Park. This attractive monument, also known as the Bellevue Veterans Memorial, located on Memorial Way, was erected in 2012. This local Bellevue memorial also recognizes those veterans who died while serving their country during the Global War on Terror. The Veterans Memorial Day Ceremony for Bellevue will take place at the Bellevue Cemetery where many other memorials are located, honoring those who served in the U.S. Armed Forces.