Tribal leaders and veterans urge Petoskey Council to keep war memorials in Pennsylvania Park

Speakers during public comment on Dec. 1 urged Petoskey City Council to preserve war memorials in Pennsylvania Park and to provide a formal assurance that monuments would not be moved.

Fred Harrington Jr., introducing a signed tribal resolution from the Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa Indians, said the tribe “vehemently objects to any plans that move the Petoskey's War memorials out of Pennsylvania Park” and requested the council reject proposals to relocate monuments. Harrington recited the tribe’s historical ties to the area and said the tribe frequently uses city parks for events.

Patrick Klein, a Vietnam veteran who described his role helping install the park monuments in the 1980s, told council the memorials are "sacred ground" for families and veterans and asked for a council vote stating that memorials will not be changed or tampered with. "A vote from the city council saying that they will not be changed, that will not be tampered with, makes a big difference," Klein said.

Mayor Murphy accepted the signed resolution and instructed staff to document it in the meeting minutes. No formal council action to permanently fix monument locations was recorded during the meeting; speakers requested such a clarifying vote.