Butler County Commissioners voted unanimously yesterday to set aside a corner of Diamond Park for a second World War II monument, all in the interests of peace between warring factions of veterans.

The exact dimension of the land is yet to be calculated, said Commissioners Chairman Dale Pinkerton, but the site for the new monument to the Merchant Marine will be in the grassy area to the left of the monument that has been a lightning rod in a nine-year argument over the proper place to list the mariners.

That monument, dedicated in December 2004, lists the Merchant Marine and about two dozen other groups on the back while the Army, Army Air Corps, Marine Corps, Navy and Coast Guard are on the front of the $450,000 memorial.

County commissioners were pulled into the dispute because they deeded over the park land to the committee that raised funds for the monument.

Mr. Pinkerton said he will help the group raise money and will personally contribute to the undertaking.

-- Karen Kane

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