Lorain County veterans group offers to donate flagpole for Elyria Stadium; board asks for logistics and will consider acceptance June 4

Representatives of the Lorain County Veterans Service Commission told the Elyria Board of Education on May 21 they have purchased a flagpole and would like permission to install it at Ely Stadium before the district’s Aug. 22 football home opener.

Russ Van Wormer, who said he serves as the public-address announcer for Elyria Pioneer football and worked with Jacob Smith of the Lorain County Veterans Service Commission on the project, told the board the commission has fully funded the $25,000 project and already has possession of the pole. "We would be willing to help the school supply any American flags that they would need," Jacob Smith said, adding the commission would maintain and supply the flag in perpetuity if the district wanted that arrangement.

The commissioners said they plan a dedication for a former Elyria High School alumnus, a Marine pilot who was shot down and held as a prisoner of war, and said the pole would honor him and all Lorain County veterans. The veterans commission referenced the Ohio Revised Code related to promoting patriotism when describing the legal basis for such activities.

Board President Elaine Seguin and other board members did not vote on the spot. The board requested that district staff, including facilities contact Brian Cocchi, determine exact siting, logistics and any required permits or review. "You can always pass a resolution which accepts the donation once we have a better scope of what it is," Treasurer Colleen Adpolt said during the discussion.

District staff and the veterans group agreed to work together on site selection and logistics and to return to the board at its June 4 meeting with location options and construction timing. Board members noted the installation contractor, Harbour Town Flags, indicated roughly a four-week lead time once scheduled.

No formal acceptance motion was made on May 21; board members said a resolution accepting the donation could be placed on a future meeting agenda after staff provides details.

Van Wormer and Smith also described ancillary veterans-related activities: a June 27 baseball event with the Crushers honoring Civil War-related history, a veterans' race in November, and offers of limited legal assistance and student support grants administered by the veterans commission.

The board did not take final action on the flagpole donation at the May 21 meeting; staff follow-up and a formal acceptance resolution were scheduled as next steps.