The Lima City Schools has completed its Veterans Wall of Honor on the campus of Lima Senior High School. The community comes together for a dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony today at 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 4, on the west side of the school.
The memorial will be a way to honor the men and women who graduated from Lima Senior, Central High School or South High School and served active duty in the military. It will be a reminder to our students of the sacrifices made by those who came before them.
The district has collected nearly 800 names to be included on the wall. These will be on the initial build. Additional names can be added in the future as donations allow.
Bob Johns, of Johns Memorials, created the wall. He is a Lima Senior graduate and veteran. Elite Builders General Contracting did the work to prepare the site for the wall at no cost to the district. Core Consulting donated design and specification work.
Donations to the wall have come in from around the country, with nearly 100 individuals, businesses, community organizations and others contributing.
The district continues to seek corporate and individual sponsors to be able to continue to add names. Checks should be made out to the Lima City Schools Foundation, with “veterans memorial” written in the memo box.
Donations should be sent to Beth Jokinen at Lima City Schools, 755 St. Johns Ave., Lima, OH 45804. Checks should be made out to the Lima City Schools Foundation, with “Veterans Wall” written in the memo area.
Thanks you to the following who donated $5,000 or more to the Veterans Wall: Elite Builders General Contracting, Lima Eagles Aerie 370, Lima Rotary Club, Lima Senior Class of 1966, Buckeye Floor and Ceiling, Smith Boughan, The Kesler Family, and the Edgar L and Dorthy J. Riker Family.
LOCATION: 1 Spartan Way, Lima, OH 45801
MAP: https://maps.app.goo.gl/XkNBeFtME3cmjRaX9
PHONE FOR ADDING NAMES: 419-996-3486
PHONE FOR DONATIONS: 419-996-3411
WEB: https://www.limacityschools.org/veteranswallofhonor
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/LimaCitySchools/
ORDER OF CEREMONY
- Superintendent Andre Rudolph asks people to stand for the presentation of the colors.
- Presentation of the colors by Marine Corp League Detachment 1063
- LSH Student Shelby Eversole invites people to join her in the Pledge of Allegiance and to remain standing for the National Anthem and a moment of silence
- Pledge of Allegiance
- National Anthem by Lima Senior Spartanaires
- Moment of Silence as LSH Student Angela Fronzaglia plays Taps
- Superintendent Rudolph welcome and opening remarks, ending with introduction of William King of the Allen County Veterans Service Commission
- William King speaks
- Superintendent Rudolph introduces Bob Johns, of Johns Memorials
- Bob Johns speaks
- Superintendent Rudolph introduces Ebony Flowers Wilkins
- Ebony Flowers Wilkins speaks, ending with introduction of Poet Lejuan Bowens and Lima Senior Jazz Band
- LeJuan Bowens recites original poem
- Jazz Band performs
- Superintendent Rudolph remarks on donors, etc.
- Ending with introduction of Tamara Grace-Finch from the Class of 1966
- Tamara Grace Finch speaks
- Superintendent Rudolph introduces Lima Mayor Sharetta Smith and Allen County Commissioner Cory Noonan
- Mayor Smith Proclamation
- Commissioner Noonan Proclamation
- Superintendent Rudolph introduces Josh Unterbrink from the Lima/Allen County Chamber of Commerce. Ribbon cutting participants join him. Superintendent Rudolph and Bob Johns assist Josh Unterbrink with actual cutting of the ribbon
- Order of people standing behind the ribbon (from left facing):
- Ebony Flowers Wilkins, Darnell Collins, Shelby Eversole, William King, Andre Rudolph, Bob Johns, Tamara Grace-Finch, Grant Sullivan, Mayor Smith, Commissioner Noonan, LeJuan Bowens.
- Superintendent Rudolph closing remarks. Ending with asking people to stand as the Marine Corp League Retires the Colors
- Colors Retired
At this point people can get a better look at the wall, find names, etc. We will also have refreshments. The Veterans Commission will have a table. The district will have a table to take donations, answer questions and get assistance finding names on the wall.