News : Bennett Fischer Pavilion dedicated as family honors soldier, Vinton lawyer

A crowd gathers around the Bennett Fischer Pavilion during its dedication Tuesday night.

This display honors the life of Bennett Fisher and captures the history of the Fischer Pavilion.

Members of the Fischer family cut the ceremonial ribbon.

Alan Merchant and Brady Randall cooked burgers and hot dogs for those attending the dedication.

Cyrus Elwick enjoys one of the quiet spots at the new park overlooking the Cedar River.

A view from the inside of the Fischer Pavilion, which can hold 80 people.

Fischer family members see the sign honoring Bennett Fischer as Brian and Robert Fischer unveil it.

The sign honoring Bennett Fischer was covered until the dedication of the new facility Tuesday.

AmeriCorps Oak 7 members worked to turn a flood-damaged garage into the pavilion.

This is a view of the new park area around the Bennett Fischer Pavilion

As a young man, Bennett Fischer served his country, serving as a bombardier on a B-17, flying 20 missions over Nazi Germany during World War II.

He spent much of the rest of his life serving his city, operating a law practice and serving for many years as the Vinton city attorney.

Fischer died in September 2008, three months after the historic flooding.

Now a building damaged by that flood has been rebuilt as a pavilion that will serve as a memorial to Bennett Fischer.

The Fischer family joined Vinton Parks and Recreation Department, along with other city leaders and AmeriCorps members, in the unveiling of the sign and the ribbon cutting for the pavilion Tuesday evening.

"This began as a wild dream after the flood," said VPRD director Duane Randall.

The new pavilion is located in what is now the city's newest park. It was the home of Benton County Volunteer Coop Director Roberta Reifenstahl. The house was destroyed in the flood. The garage was saved to be renovated into a pavilion.

Randall said the Fischer family offered to pay for the project as a memorial to Bennett. The AmeriCorps Oak 7 team did much of the work, removing the old siding and walls from the garage and replacing them with metal panels. Other Americorps teams helped clean the area and the river bank. Local florists helped with the planting of flowers.

Now, said Randall, the area is one of the most beautiful small parks in the city, with a great view of the river.

"Many people sat here to watch the fireworks," he told the crowd.

Yvonne Fischer thanked everyone who donated to the memorial. The funds left in Bennett's memory were saved for use for this project.

Robert Fischer, who replaced his father as city attorney, told the crowd that Bennett was a great husband, father and community leader, but that he should be remembered most for his bravery in that B-17.

Fischer family members who participated in the ribbon cutting included Tom Fischer, a son; Margaret Taylor, the sister of the late bennett Fischer; Yvonne, Bennett's widow; and Bennet's son Robert, his wife Linda and their children Brian and Elizabeth. Many other relatives of Bennett Fischer attended the ceremony and watched Robert and Brian Fischer unveil the sign honoring Bennett.