A military memorial and water park dedicated to the memory of Chief Warrant Officer 4 Critian Koch, Chief Warrant Officer 5 Steven Skoda and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Daniel Prial opened on Friday, October 15 in the city of Mendon, near where their MEDIVAC helicopter crashed during training exercises in January. The three victims of the crash lived in County Monroe and Koch was a resident of Mendon. The park is located at Semmel Rd. Park, which is near the crash site.

According to a press release on the Town of Mendon webpage, “the project includes a memorial as a place of dark reflection, as well as a community Splash Park for the use of local families. A pavilion and washrooms will also be built to accommodate families spending time at the park.

“From the very beginning of our work, our goal was to commemorate these New York National Guardsmen and to focus attention on their lives, service, sacrifice and mission,” said Muffy Meisenzahl, chair of the Citizens’ Advisory Committee. about the project. “These priorities, coupled with the wishes of families, led us to recommend a place where people of all ages could come together and learn more about these men who have given so much to their country and our community. “

The Citizens Advisory Committee for a Military Memorial was composed of ten members of the community of Mendon: Robert Booth, member of the municipal council Cynthia Carroll, member of the municipal council Thomas DuBois, Peter Lehning, Myron Lemperle, Muffy Meisenzahl (chairman), Edward O’Brien, Anne -Marie Sweeney, Stephen Tschiderer and Dawn Worboys. The project proposal also received feedback from bereaved families and city officials.

The City of Mendon established the project using City reserves, which are the result of long-term budget strategies, and federal funding received by the City as part of the US Rescue Plan.