Reflections Magazine Issue #61 - Spring 2004 | Page 16

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Siena Grad Serves
On World War II
Memorial Committee

Melissa Durbin Growden ’90 wears a
couple of hats. By day, she serves as
the director of the SHU  Career  Services 
office. Other times, she dons a
hardhat as she takes a close look at the
construction of the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. “The WW II
Memorial pays homage to the entire war
effort - the home front, our allies, our
veterans and, of course, those who gave
the supreme sacrifice.”   
In 1994, then President Bill Clinton
appointed Melissa to the WWII Memorial Advisory Board and she remains
a key contributor to the project. Her
grandfather, the late Roger Durbin of
Blissfield, led the push 17 years ago
for the creation of such a memorial.  He
approached Ohio 9th District Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur and asked why
there was no national WWII memorial
where he and his fellow veterans could
take their grandchildren.
Kaptur is the mover and shaker behind
the legislative approval to erect the  lasting tribute located in a prime spot on The 
National Mall in Washington, D.C.  She 
has worked tirelessly to secure legislation and ensure the WWII 
generation
will be properly remembered.
Melissa has assisted by working with
the Policy and Fund Raising and Site
and Design committees. She also speaks
to various groups on the history, design
and construction of the memorial. She
credits her family and Siena Heights
for her activism. “In addition to my
parents and grandparents,  was my
it
strong Dominican role models—Sister
Eileen Rice, Sister Mary Louise Hall
as well as Father David VanHorn—who
helped me find the courage and voice to
become a strong advocate and leader for
the WWII Memorial project.” 

Melissa Growden ‘90, stitches the 17th star
for the ceremonial flags for the World War II
memorial as she is watched by her parents,
Jan and Pete Durbin, from left, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur and master embroiderer
Nelda Wise, far right.

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Reflections Spring ‘04 - Alumni News

Melissa is the youngest member and one
of only two women on the 10-member
board. Most recently, Melissa’s 
duties
as a board member led to another committee appointment. Along with 15 other
members, Melissa helped to oversee the
creation of two ceremonial American
flags that will fly over the WWII Memorial at its dedication on May 29.
One flag represents the domestic front
and the other is for the U.S.’s international allies and efforts. The flags, handmade in Toledo, were dedicated in
February during ceremonies at Roger
Durbin’s grave, his American Legion
post in Sylvania, the Lucas County
War Memorial and International Park
in Toledo. The National Flag Truck
transported the flags for the various
ceremonies. Melissa and her brother,
Tom Durbin ‘95, spoke on behalf of  the
family at the ceremonies.    
The international flag will be flown over
all foreign cemeteries where American
veterans are buried. Then, both flags
will be in Washington, D.C., for the
national dedication events.
As a member of the advisory board,
Melissa has traveled to D.C. 
numerous times and has been able to watch
work progress on the memorial,
which was scheduled to open in April.
A formal dedication is planned for
Memorial  Day Weekend , May 29, and
Melissa and Tom will be there.
Nearly 200,000 people are expected to
attend and The History Channel will
broadcast live from the event. “There
are absolutely no words to describe
what it is like to stand in the center of 
that memorial,” she said. “It’s going to
be the last national salute to the World
War II generation.”
The Advance of Blissfield contributed
to this report.