SUBMITTED BY RUSSELL STRAYER, American Legion Post 173
Memorial Day is a time to stop and reflect about the times this Country has had to depend on her sons and daughters who were wearing Her “war suit.” One of those times took place 81 years ago when the United States of American was blasted into World War II.
Dec. 7, 1941, was a huge turning point in, not only this Country’s attitude toward whether or not we should join the Allies who were engaged in a struggle between democracy and dictatorship, but in the lives of every day American men and women.
Logan County, Ohio, was no exception, based on the 1940 Census, four out of every five males between the ages of 20 and 35 was in uniform, and the ladies served right along with her brothers in one form or another.
To commemorate their service, Logan County dedicated 35 plywood panels, measuring 13- inches wide, by 10-feet long. Upon these panels were the names of 2,515 men and women who put their dreams on hold to answer a higher calling. All too many never to return home to fulfill those plans for their future, having given us, the remaining, and countless others yet unborn, ours.
These panels were dedicated in Logan County on Nov. 11, 1943, in those days it was called “Armistice Day,” to mark the end of World War I, “the war to end all wars.” Little did they know in those days, that it was the imputation that gave birth to the “the Great Patriotic War,” as it was known in the East.
The ceremony took place in the Holland Theater, and at that time there was almost 2,100 names on the panels, many more to be added as time went on. Gold stars were used to mark the names of those who “gave the last full measure,” at the dedication, there were 11 names so marked.
Unfortunately, not all the names of those who served from Logan County are on the panels. We are not aware of how the names were obtained, but when human hands are involved, mistakes occur occasionally. What is to be admired however, is the amount of labor involved in painting these names.
Remember, in 1943, they didn’t have the technology that we have today, where machines do much of the work. Every one of those letters in those names was laboriously hand-painted, and the uniformity of the letters almost look like a machine did it, but for the small irregularities, we know differently.
Also, keep in mind, that whereas many of the names are in alphabetical order there are many instances where they are out of order, so a researcher searching for a particular name, or names may have to view the entire work to be successful.
For three years this project was a work in progress, with names being added to the originals as time went on. Work is in the process of creating a directory that will direct a researcher to the panel that bears the name in question, thus making it easier to find a relative or a name of interest.
These panels were rediscovered in 2018, while the Logan County Courthouse was being repaired and renovated. These historic documents had been stored and forgotten for 73 years. The panels were moved to a vacant store across the street temporarily, and when the store was rented, the Logan County commissioners needed to find a new home for them.
The commissioners contacted Shelley Kneece, Director of Veteran Services, for the project. She contacted the Harold Kerr Post # 173, of the American Legion to see if they were interested in adopting this World War II artifact.
This organization immediately placed into effect a plan to recover, restore, and renovate these remembrances from a by-gone era. Russ Strayer and Ray Stamm were sent to Cincinnati to confer with a restoration company to learn how to conduct the project.
Seventy-three years of dust and grime had to be carefully removed and a restorative added to the wood to prevent any further damage that time and neglect had caused. This process took months to accomplish, but finally they were ready to be unveiled at the 2018 Memorial Day parade in DeGraff, as well as West Liberty’s Labor Day celebration, followed the next year in Bellefontaine’s Memorial Day parade.
Because the 35 panels are almost 40 linear feet long and are 10 feet high, they require a sizable display area, so former ‘Examiner’ reporter Reuben Mees previously took photos of the panels and Pat Culp, owner of Vital Signs, graciously transferred them onto two 4-foot by 4-foot vinyl panels for easy display.
The vinyl panels are now featured at the Logan County History Center, 521 E. Columbus Ave., Bellefontaine, which is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.
We wish to thank Todd McCormick, museum curator, for allowing us to do so. Any group that would like to borrow a vinyl panel may call the Center’s office at (937) 593-7557, Monday through Thurday 9 a.m. to 4 pm to make arrangements.
After their public viewing, the original panels themselves were placed in storage at the Ohio Hi-Point Career Center facilities, where they were housed in a temperature-controlled environment, until recently.
Through the Ohio Hi-Point administration, and Robert Walker, grounds and facilities director, and the 664th AC&W Radar Squadron/NADRM Reunion Committee, the panels have found a permanent home in Building “J” — a former radar tower and soon-to-become a museum for “Cold War” Air Force equipment.
The Harold Kerr Post # 173, American Legion would like to express their sincere appreciation to all who helped save these priceless relics from doom and destruction.
Lowe’s of Bellefontaine has been very open-handed in their contributions of materials for the display of the panels, which were installed at the museum this spring.
Officers and members of Harold Kerr Post have contributed time, money and labor toward the permanent installation of the panels.
The 664th has been more than gracious in allowing the panels to share space in their future museum. Thus far, one person has not been mentioned, but she stands out for supplying her spontaneous efforts and artistic talents in helping to restore faded and damaged lettering to the panels themselves, as well as doing the graphics for the information display of the panels, for this and much more. Everyone involved in this project owes and expresses their thanks to Leassa Tapp.
The American Legion Post 173 recently hosted a dedication ceremony for the panels at Building “J” to express their thanks to the members of the 664th AC&W Radar Squadron, Ohio Hi-Point Career Center officials and representatives from Lowe’s of Bellefontaine. It could not have been possible without you. Many of those who were involved in this project have relatives whose names appear on these panels.
Editor’s note: Russell Strayer notes that his father, Sherman Strayer, is among 17 of his relatives listed on the panels, which also includes his uncles and cousins.
PANELS
• Original WWII Commemorative Panels — Now permanently housed at Building “J” at the Ohio Hi-Point Career Center, a former radar tower and soon-to-become a museum for “Cold War” Air Force equipment, hosted by the 664th AC&W Radar Squadron.
• WWII vinyl panels— Featured at the Logan County History Center, 521 E. Columbus Ave., Bellefontaine, which is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.