GALLIPOLIS - For one of their major projects this year, members of the Gallipolis Rotary Club decided it would be nice to spruce up the entrance to the city park's War Memorial.

Workers this week poured concrete for a new walkway at the entrance to the memorial. Soon, a new water fountain and bench will be placed there.

“This was our project for the year,” said Daniel Whitely, president of the Rotary. “I went and talked to (city manager) Bill Jenkins about what we could do. We thought dressing up the war memorial would be nice.”

The Rotary donated the water fountain to the city. It is accessible to those in wheelchairs, Whiteley said. City workers will handle the installation, he said.

Rotary members started working on the project this past September, Whiteley said. They chose it as their project because it passes the civic organization's Four-Way Test: Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendships? Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

A plaque containing those words will be placed in the concrete near the fountain, Whiteley said.

The new fountain and a trash receptacle will be on the left side of the entrance, while facing the monument, Jenkins said. A bench will be placed on the other side, he said.

The Gallia County Veterans Service Association recently added 26 more names to the Vietnam War section of the memorial, 14 to the World War II section and one to the World War I section.

They anticipate adding more names soon.