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April 5, 2018
B
ELLEVILLE
- R
OMULUS
Library groundbreaking set
The Belleville Area District Library
will celebrate National Library Week
April 8-14 with several special library-
themedprograms.
Stories songs and crafts for children
ages 4 and older are planned for 6:30 p.m.
Monday, April 9. Pre registration for this
even is required.
Toddler Story Timewill begin at 11 a.m.
April 10 and 12 at the library and include
books, songs and crafts. Registration is
also required for this activity.
A bookbinding class is set for 7 p.m.
Wednesday, April 11. Participants will
make their own books using Japanese stab
binding techniques. The event is designed
for all ages, 8 and older. Registration is
required for thisworkshop.
Homegrown Knowledge will feature
special guest speakers sharing the history
of the library from the opening of the facil-
ity beginning at 7 p.m. April 12.
One of the most highly anticipated
events of the month is set for 11 a.m.
Saturday, April 14 when the official
groundbreaking ceremony for the new
library will take place. This free, public
event is family-friendly and will include
refreshments, cake and special prizes for
children.
The library is located at 167 Fourth St.
inBelleville.
For more information on any activity or
registration, call (734) 699-3291.
wounded in both thighs during an
engagement in the town of Imus in the
Philippine province of Cavite.
Mr. Cawetzka's military career ended
on April 3, 1901. On Dec. 2, 1902, hemar-
ried Clara Cross and the couple had
eight children.
Farino contacted Romulus City Clerk
Ellen Cragg Bragg's office and then fol-
lowed up with an appearance at a
Cemetery Boardmeeting last October to
make his case. Lemmon then met with
Romulus Mayor LeRoy Burcroff who
gave his blessing for a campaign to fund
a newmonument.
Romulus Public Services Director
Robert McCraight contacted a represen-
tative of the Veterans Administration in
an attempt to discover why Mr.
Cawetzka's history and medal had been
overlooked. He was informed that that
since Mr. Cawetzka has a “historic”
headstone, that is “still serviceable,” the
marker would not be replaced by the
government.
Even if it were to break or deteriorate
and need to be replaced, a replacement
would include the original language,
which did not include recognition of the
Medal ofHonor.
“We knew they weren't going to do
anything for us, so we decided to fix it,”
Lemmon said.
“We decided to have a benefit, get
donations, buy this man a proper monu-
ment and put it in the cemetery. We are
doing this because it's the right thing to
do.”
The Cemetery Board will purchase
the monument at cost of $1,540 with the
help of Crane Funeral Home of
Romulus and Inch Monuments of
Northville. The monument will be 18-
inches high and 24-inches wide and rest
on a 6-inch base. It will be put in place
and unveiled during a special memorial
service on a date to be announced.
The original headstone will remain
in place and the new monument will be
installed at the gravesite.
“I believe this man has been neglect-
ed all these years,” Lemmon said.
“Everybody walked by the monument
and didn't know the honor he received
for serving his country. He wasn't given
his rightful due. It's important to his fam-
ily, important to the cemetery and
important to the city.
A spaghetti dinner has been sched-
uled to raise funds for the new monu-
ment. It is planned for 5 to 7 p.m. Friday,
April 20, at Romulus Veterans of Foreign
Wars Post 9568, 30270 Huron River Dr.
Tickets are $10 each.
Grandson Bruce Cawetzka of
Ypsilanti said he was very young when
Charles Cawetzka died. His father,
Frances, served in the Air Force during
World War II and was a prisoner of war
inGermany.
Cawetzka said Frances did not talk
much about the military before he
passed away.
“Once I heard aboutmy grandfather, I
was very proud of him,” Cawetzka said.
“It's a great honor to receive this honor.
We're fortunate that Greg is so passion-
ate about honoringmy grandfather.”
Cawetzka said a number of his grand-
fathers' descendants will attend the
spaghetti dinner, including his daugh-
ters, who are Mr. Cawetzka's great-
granddaughters. Cawetzka said he will
bring the actual Medal of Honor and a
certificate signed by the President,
which was passed down to him by his
father.
Cawetzka said a number of his rela-
tives lived inRomulus and/or are buried
in the Romulus Cemetery, which is con-
sidered a historical place since so many
notable people are buried there.
“We were very surprised and very
thankful,” he said “We have a lot of grati-
tude to the commission that's doing this.
It's very gracious of them.”
The fundraiser also will include bas-
ket raffles and a 50/50 drawing.
“To me, it's an honor to have him in
our cemetery. This cemetery is one of
the most valuable pieces of property in
the city. The history we have in that
cemetery is all of Romulus. We thought
it was something we had to do,”
Lemmon said.
Hero
FROM PAGE 1
High notes
For the second time in three years, the Romulus Eagles Symphony Band has
earned an overall top rating of one at the Michigan School Band and Orchestra
Association (MSBOA) district-level festival. Scoring is evaluated on a scale from 1
to 5, by three performance judges and one sight-reading judge. The Eagles
received the highest overall rating at their site by scoring all ones in performance
and a two in sight reading. "This is the first time we received straight ones in per-
formance, our students are consistently progressing," said Jessica Mills-Rais,
band and choir director for Romulus High School. The District Orchestra Festival
is an opportunity for ensembles from member schools to perform a program of
three pieces for judgment, one of which must be assigned from the MSBOA.
Ensembles that earn an overall one rating are considered superior and qualify for
the State Band and Orchestra Festival where Romulus students will compete in
early May.
