Newton Falls veterans concerned over new benches

Patriotic red, white and blue benches in Veterans Park are the subject of growing criticism by local retired servicemembers.

American Legion Post 236 1st Vice Commander Joseph Nicolino said he met with the former city manager to discuss plans a few months ago.

But that plan yielded surprising results after the project was handed over to interim manager Mike Novotny.

"We thought we had an agreement that they would put the brown benches out, and they could put the red, white and blue ones down by the water," Nicolino said.

Part of the veterans' dissatisfaction with the update is that the bench colors are too attention-grabbing.

"They're patriotic, but this park is for remembrance," Post 236 Commander Walter Snyder tells 21 News.

In addition to issues of appearance, Nicolino and other veterans say they feel the change is one that does not pay proper respects to those memorialized.

AMVETS Commander Art Keffer pointed out that a number of new benches, adorned with names of veterans who passed away at home, replaced old benches with a special designation.

"Ones they had over there had names of people that were deceased in the service, overseas," Keffer added. "We wanted to keep that going."

Those frustrations were enough that the local veteran groups considered moving Memorial Day services to an alternative location. Although they decided against it, Nicolino, Snyder and Keffer tell 21 News they still hope the City will move these new benches to a different location in the near future.

Interim city manager Mike Novotny was unable to be reached for comment.