(Posted April 15, 2015)
By Kristy Zurbrick, Madison Editor
London city council plans to name High Street, between Walnut Street and Madison Road, as Veteran’s Memorial Drive.
The resolution, sponsored by every member of council, was introduced at council’s April 2 meeting. It will be up for second and third readings on April 16 and May 7, respectively.
“I’m glad that all of council is behind this. I think it’s going to be a great way to honor our heroes who have fallen in battle,” said Pat Closser, council president.
The proposal is the city’s answer to recent requests from the public for recognition of London area veterans who died in service during time of war. It goes hand-in-hand with a banner program the Downtown London Association (DLA) is developing to honor those veterans.
The banners measure 30×60 inches and will hang on light poles on High Street. Each banner will display the names of one or two London veterans. The goal, said Steve Hume, London safety-service director, is to have the banners ready by Memorial Day weekend.
Before then, the DLA is seeking the public’s help with finalizing the list of veterans to be honored.
“It’s been quite a journey to get the names,” said Closser.
Because there was no master list of London veterans who died during time of war, project organizers have had to dig for information to create one. They are asking for help with identifying anyone they might of missed, as well as what branch of the military each veteran served in.
They also are asking for donations to cover the cost of the banners and their mounting systems. Hume estimates they will need $5,000 to $6,000 to get the program started, plus more for additional or replacement banners in the future.
Several individuals and groups have already made donations. American Legion Post 105 recently contributed $1,500. Donations have come in all sizes.
“Someone dropped off $2…People want to help any way they can,” Closser said.
To make a donation to the banner recognition project, send checks to: Downtown London Association, P.O. Box 335, London, OH 43140. Write “Veteran’s Memorial Drive” in the check’s memo line.
Working on list of veterans
The London Community Organization is compiling a list of London area veterans who died during time of war. The following is the working list. Anyone who has corrections or additions or can confirm the branch of the military a veteran served in is asked to call the city administration office, (740) 852-3243. The names will be placed on banners for display on High Street in downtown London.
World War I
Gleo F. Byerly
Charles C. Cryder
Roy Newsome
Hoyt Rowland
Houston Stone
World War II
Jack Edmonds Adams
John Downing Beach
John Davis
Bennie Estep
John W. Funk Jr.
Samuel R. Heffron Jr.
Harold Edward Kell
Raymond Mabe
Vernon Malone
James Hudson Marrah
John Sherman McSavaney
Warren Morrison
Roland Francis Plymell
William Smith Rhoades (Army)
John Phillip Roads
John David Shaw
Cass Beery Speasmaker
Kenneth Streitenberger
Richard Windal Thorne
Donald E. Turvy
Korean War
Carse Cunningham
James Billy Fugett
Vietnam War
Thomas Edward Burlile
Ronald E. Harrison (Army)
Larry Dean Ripley
John Edward Theil
Thomas William Johnson
Robert Crain Phleger
War Against Terrorism
Josh McDaniel
