West Liberty dedicates Purple Heart veterans tribute
The Village of West Liberty and area veterans service organizations presented a heartfelt and lasting tribute Thursday evening to a group of veterans who bravely served in battles stretching back to World War II to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and gave up much for their country — being wounded in battle or killed in action.
The names of 14 Purple Heart recipients, all from the West Liberty area, are forever commemorated in stonework laid at Veteran’s Park in the village, with the site dedicated Thursday to a crowd of about 80 people, with some Gold Star family members of honorees traveling from California and South Carolina to attend, Mayor Jill McKelvey said.
“It was a wonderful evening and we’re so grateful for the many community partners who came together to make this possible,” she said. “This is an important effort to honor these individuals and their families, who served so bravely and sacrificed so much.”
During the spring, the village began seeking the Ohio Military Order of the Purple Heart to honor residents specifically of the 43357 zip code, both living and deceased, who earned this distinguished United States military decoration, which is awarded in the name of the President to those wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917. The Purple Heart is the oldest military award still given to U.S. military members.
While working through each of these official steps, McKelvey said West Liberty expects to receive its official designation as an Ohio Military Order of the Purple Heart site in the spring of 2022, with another ceremony to take place at that time.
Purple Heart recipients currently listed at the site include, with their award year(s), include:
• Richard Rupert, U.S. Army Sergeant, 1944.
• William Rupert, U.S. Army Sergeant, 1944.
• Donald Max Garman, U.S. Army PFC,1944.
• Roy L. Keely, U.S. Army Captain, 1946.
• Paul A. Kari, U.S. Air Force Lt. Colonel, 1965 and 1973.
• John (Duke) C. Smith, Marine Corps, 1966.
• Glenn Gault, U.S. Army Sergeant, 1967.
• David H. Zook Jr., U.S. Air Force Colonel, 1967.
• William M. Short, Marine Corps PFC, 1969.
• Dale Yoder, U.S. Army SPC 4, 1969.
• William Roberts, Marine Corps Sergeant, 1969.
• Ronald Wenger, U.S. Army E-4, 1970.
• Glenn Lovett, U.S. Army Sergeant, 1970.
• Spencer Davis, U.S. Army E-5, 2005.
During the evening’s activities, McKelvey and Master of Ceremonies Shane Oelker, West Liberty police chief, said an additional Purple Heart recipient from the village was discovered. Shawn Miller, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps and received a Purple Heart in 2005, was in attendance during the ceremony. He will be added to the named honorees in the stonework at Veteran’s Park.
Individuals driving by the site, located at the intersection of north Detroit Street and Zanesfield Road, during the evening hours will notice a purple glow on the memorial, with LED lights and electric work installed by Eric Esh of A&E Construction.
“It can be seen for several blocks — it is a pretty amazing sight,” the mayor said.
Shane Long’s Concrete Construction LLC designed the stonework and provided the concrete work on site, and Jake Vitt and Logan’s Landscaping offered a landscaping update for the Veteran’s Park for the special event.
The Bellefontaine Fire Department supplied a ladder truck for a flag tribute over the park.
West Liberty American Legion Post 426 Chaplain Robert Godwin offered a prayer at the site, and Post Commander Scott Davis addressed the crowd.
Following the dedication, a procession headed to Quest Community Church for a program featuring the honored veterans and refreshments.