The initiative and tireless research of a group of Bellefontaine High School students and several dedicated local partners helped to make a dream of honoring Logan County’s fallen military heroes with a permanent memorial into a reality, with the BHS War Memorial dedicated Saturday morning to a large crowd of supporters.
Many local individuals have a connection to the memorial, which lists the Logan County service members killed in action while serving in conflicts dating from the Civil War to current day.
For three families who have memories of their recently lost loved ones, Dennis Hansen, Jeremy Hodge and David S. Spicer, who died while serving in the War on Terror, the memorial is very personal and the kind gesture of the BHS AGAPE Club will never be forgotten.
“It’s been my mission that no one forgets my son; we host our Poker Run every year and have a scholarship in his name,” David S. Spicer’s mother Sandra Lockwood said following the ceremony.
“Having this memorial is so special and it’s so nice to know that many generations will be able to remember David as well. We’ll be bringing all of our family here to see this.”
“This is a very nice tribute,” Jeremy Hodge’s father Mike Hodge said of his son, who was a Ridgemont High School graduate. “Our family is appreciative of the effort on behalf of these students and other community members to remember Jeremy and all of these local heroes.”
Dwight and Bonnie Hansen, parents of Dennis Hansen, said they were grateful for all of the individuals who came together Saturday morning and also the involvement of the Logan County History Center on this project.
“I’m a board member for the History Center, and I appreciate the recognition of this important resource in our community,” Mrs. Hansen said.
The new memorial is featured on the east side of the BHS building by the entrance to the Distance Learning Center and auxiliary gymnasium, a high traffic area for sports and other activities at the school.
For the past several years, members of the BHS AGAPE Club, along with social studies teachers Jason Brown, Matt Gallaway and Jim Robinson and other staff, have been researching local fallen service members and preparing materials for the project with the help of representatives from the Logan County History Center and the Logan County Veterans to D.C. program.
BHS AGAPE Club members Mullaney Yoder and Chelsea Burkhammer helped to spearhead the effort on behalf of the club.
Both students graduated from BHS in May 2020. Yoder is currently studying and playing volleyball at Wittenberg University.
Burkhammer, who also attended the 2019 Logan County Veterans to D.C. trip in honor of her late uncle, William Burkhammer, is serving her country in the military. She graduated from Basic Training in March, and is currently due to graduate with her Army Advanced Individual Training in July 2021, before returning to Wright State in August.
“We’re hoping that people who come to the games will be able to remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice, and all of those who served and gave us so much,” Burkhammer said about the memorial at a Bellefontaine Schools Board of Education meeting when the project was first introduced.
Area businesses also helped make the initiative a reality through generous in-kind donations of supplies and services. Among the donors include Marker Construction providing labor and equipment to pour the concrete and install the plaques; Ohio Ready Mix and Duff Quarry’s donation of concrete and aggregate materials for the project; and Bellefontaine City Schools’ donation of the lighting and space for the memorial.
BCS Superintendent Brad Hall said it was a privilege for the district to host this memorial that honors the “brave men and men who served our country in the military,” noting it’s meaningful for the 2,400 BCS students have the chance to take in the site as well.
Retired Logan County Family Court Judge and U.S. Air Force veteran Dan. W. Bratka recognized the importance of the project to preserve the memories of these service members and their contributions to the history of Logan County.
“We need this memorial. We need this recognition; we cannot forget each of these individuals,” he said.
Michael Hassel also detailed the formation of the Dale McGinnis Post 686 of the American Legion.. The post was named after Ridgeway resident Dale McGinnis, the first African American from Logan County killed in World War II, who is honored through a special plaque on the memorial as well.
A Color Guard and flag presentation organized by Russ Strayer concluded the ceremony.
BHS War Memorial
Logan Countians Killed in Battle
Civil War — Bell, William A • Elliot, Levi • Green, Capt. Shepherd • Hankin, William • McPherson, Henry • Plum, Jonathan • Powell, William • Scott, James • Southard, Levi • Sullivan, David • Vail, John L.
World War I — Abraham, Richard F. • Ailes, Edward • Allen, James • Bergshicker, H.F. • Collins, Sgt. Charles C. • Crum, Michael A. • Culver, Earl Blair • Currin, Will J. • Detrick, Sgt. Virgil • Devine, Wilbur C. • Doanne, Lyman • Dubbs, Forest • Frye, Robert • Gilbert, Howard W. • Girard, William Wallace • Harshfield, Armond • Haynes, Noah • Hemphill, William • Hurley, Daniel E. • Kerr, Cpl. Harold R. • Manahan, Clayton Earle • McGovern, Charles • Miller, Sgt. Glenn D. • Mount, Maynard • Mustaine, Herman • Ortman, Alfred • Peck, Harry • Reed, Ottis • Rowley, Freeman • Selsor, Guy B. • Shafer, Ray • Simms, Charlie • Smith, George Dewey • Stout, Willard • Wise, Forest • Woodard, Bernie • Yinger, Berio.
World War II — Andrews, Eugene W. • Andrews, William H. • Barris, George • Beck, William M. • Bell, Bruce E. • Berry, Edward • Bills, Richard • Bird, Charles • Boone, John Franklin • Britton, William T. • Brooks, Emory • Brown, Pvt. Walter Eugene • Bunnell, Paul • Burris, Otho • Carel, Cpl. Clarence E. • Castle, Frank D. • Culp, Carlos • Devine, Lt. Robert • Dick, Paul C. • Downing, William L. • Dysert, Carl Wilber • Elliott, Billie J. • Elliott, Curtis • Fair, Thomas Eugene • Felger, Charles • Fortney, Herbert L. • Ginn, Sgt. Jack • Green, Jack • Greeno, Roger William • Gregg, Russell E. • Hammye, Pvt. Paul V. • Headings, Boyd W. • Heath, PFC. Wayne W. • Hennselman, Chester H. • Hill, Charles R. • Hinkle, Ben • Hoey, Staff Sgt. James • Hughes, Sgt Ralph H. • Hull, Kenneth • Hurley, Donald • Huston, Walter D. • Jordan, William C. • Kennedy, Staff Sgt. Ernest • Kimmel, Charles J. • Kinney, Sgt. James • Knerr, Robert F. • Kotsaris, Lester P. • Licklider, Herbert Paul • Lind, Richard • Loffer, PFC James L. • Long, Frederick V. • Long, Cpl. William Howard • Longbrake, John Robert • Longenecker, 2nd Lt. Robert T. • Lord, Vernon • Lowman, Harry E. • Lundermann, Donald Henry • McCauley, James T. • McConnell, PFC James • McCormick, Robert D. • McGinnis, Dale • Miksch, Robert • Miley, Maurice • Miller, Harold • Miller, Vincent “Ben” • Millikan, Charles • Miranda, George • Neal, Leonard • Nogle, Leroy • Ohns, John M. • Ornsborn, Lawrence • Piatt, Jacob I. • Pratt, 1st Lt. John L. • Pratt, Lt. Cmd. Dr. Malcolm • Pryor, Frances Herbert • Pusey, Herman L. • Reames, Harley C., Jr. • Reames, Spencer • Ridgeway, Kenneth R. • Riley, Robert F. • Rosebrook, Cpl. Francis • Settlemire, Alonzo • Shafer, Harold L. • Smith Gene D. • Smith, Max Wayne • Smith, Ralph • Smith, Richard P. • Smith, Walter D. • Snyder, William R. • Steinhelfer, Donald • Stockwell, Leron • Swetland, Harold • Tallman, Charles • Tennery, Oren J. • Thralkill, Max • Tillman, James • Trenary, Robert J. • Vermillion, Kermit M. • Walton, Richard • Watkins, Kenneth Oscar • Well, James Darius • Wiley, Robert C. • Wilgus, Richard C. • Wod, William R. • Wynn, Roy N. • Yoder,Willis R. • Zink, Roland
Korea — Akey, John Edward • Brinkley, John R. • Focht, Irvin E. • Hoffman, FC Franklin R. • Lewis, Lyman Eugene • Phipps, PFC Alvin • Seamon, James G. • Shafer, Willard James, Jr.
Vietnam / Southeast Asia — Bechtel, Herbert Stephen • Brown, R. Dennis • Cornelius, John A. • Davis, Duane Michael • Earick, James Allen • Early, James Michael • Ferguson, Lynn Michael • Geuy, James Michael • Heintz, Ned Richard • Hoge, Frank Lee • Hughes, Lewis Eugene II • Karibo, John Altman • Keller, David Richard • Kerns, Roger Ray • King, Michael Lee • Kramer, Donald E. • Krueger, Randall Lee • Lovelace, Kenneth • Lovett, Glenn Allen • McFarlan, Charles Richard • Parker, Roger Louis • Pilson, Thomas Victor • Shepherd, Roger Eugene • Short, William Michael • Shroyer, Perry Vernando • Southard, Jerry Lee • Timms, Terry Lynn • Titus, Friman A. • Young, Jerry Owen • Zimmerman, Steven Arthur • Zook, David Hartzler, Jr.
Balkans — Dugan, Donald A.
War on Terror — Hansen, Dennis • Hodge, Jeremy • Spicer, David S.