Portia Williams | Daily Times
Members of American Legion Post 471 at work on the construction of the Dunkin-Applegate Memorial at Daymar College in New Boston.
PORTIA WILLIAMS
PDT Staff Writer
NEW BOSTON — Construction of the Dunkin-Applegate Memorial began Saturday, at Daymar College in New Boston. The project is a memorial in honor of Firefighter, Rocky Dunkin who died in July, and Tony Applegate, soldier who died in Iraq in 1991.
Mike Bell, Admissions Representative of Daymar College, said that he felt First Responders and Veterans were in need of recognition, and decided to share his idea with the New Boston Village Council. The Council concurred with Bell, and encouraged him to pursue erecting the memorial.
The Dunkin-Applegate Memorial is being established in honor of Dunkin, the 24 year old full-time member of the New Boston Fire Department who had also been working as a Nile Township volunteer firefighter and died responding to a crash on U.S. 52 near Friendship.
Dunkin fell unconscious while he was in the process of assisting medical personnel. Dunkin was discovered by fellow firefighters and transported to Southern Ohio Medical Center where he was pronounced dead at 3:15 a.m.
Applegate was a 28-year-old U.S. Army soldier who was killed in 1991 in Iraq by friendly fire during his tour. Applegate was the first soldier to be killed by friendly fire in Iraq.
Bell said the memorial is also for all veterans and first responders who have given their lives for this cause of humanity.
“I was not sure initially how I was going to get this project complete. When the American Legion Post 471 heard about it, they stepped and said they’d do it,” Bell said.
Bell said he was elated by the support Post 471 has given to bringing the memorial project into fruition.
“These guys do construction all week long and they come here dedicate their time, it’s just great,” Bell said.
Bell also expressed gratitude to the owners of the property of Daymar College who allowed him to put the memorial in the front of the building.
Bell also said Portsmouth Block and Portsmouth Monument donated the materials and monument for the construction of the Dunkin-Applegate Memorial.
A dedication ceremony for the memorial is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 14. The widow of Dunkin as well as members of the Applegate family are scheduled to attend the memorial dedication.
Portia Williams may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 234 or portiawilliams@heartlandpublications.com
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Thank you,
Mike Bell