Buckeye State Artist Unveils Lima Co. Memorial

June 3rd, 2008 Posted By drillanwr.

1

By Sgt. G. S. Thomas, Marine Forces Reserve - USMC

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A memorial to 23 fallen warriors was unveiled during a ceremony at the Ohio statehouse this afternoon.

The memorial consists of eight panels with life-size portraits of the Marines and corpsmen from Company L, 3rd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, who lost their lives while serving in Iraq in 2005. The canvases, all painted by Columbus artist Anita Miller, are arranged in an octagon with the fallen warrior’s boots and an ever-living candle beneath their likeness.

2

Among those who spoke before the unveiling was Gunnery Sgt. Shawn Delgado who deployed with the company as the Weapons Platoon commander in 2005. Delgado shared personal stories about many of the fallen, often having to hold back his own emotions to do so.

“None of us want these Marines or anyone from Lima Company to be remembered for their death,” said Delgado. “Please never forget why Marines, soldiers, sailors and airmen go forward and that’s to push the cause of freedom.”

The memorial, which originally came to the artist in a dream, will stay in the statehouse before traveling across the country.

“These paintings tell a story of courage and strength and hope,” said Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland. “The paintings will stand in our statehouse from Memorial Day through Veterans Day but the Lima Company, the Lima Company will remain in our hearts every day.”

Also in attendance were Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England, Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Robert Magnus and 4th Marine Division Commanding General Maj. Gen. James L. Williams.

(MORE and MORE)

Depicted in the paintings are:

Lance Cpl. Eric J. Bernholtz, 23 years old. He was born in Des Moines, Iowa, on Oct. 27, 1981. His hometown is Grove City, Ohio, where he attended school from the first grade through high school. Bernholz was KIA on Aug. 3, 2005, in Barwanah, Iraq, by an IED.

Lance Cpl. Wesley G. Davids, 20 years old. He was born in San Jose, Calif., on May 10, 1985. Davids was a freshman in high school when his family moved to Dublin, Ohio, where he rowed with a team on the Scioto River. Davids was KIA on May 11, 2005, in Al Qa’im, Iraq, by an IED.

Lance Cpl. Christopher Jenkins Dyer, 19 years old. He was born in Cincinnati on March 13, 1986. Dyer considered both Evendale and Glendale, Ohio, as hometowns. He was KIA on Aug. 3, 2005, in Barwanah, Iraq, by an IED.

Lance Cpl. Christopher P. Lyons, 24 years old. He was born in Charleston, S. C., on Sept. 26, 1980. His hometown is Shelby, Ohio, where he worked as an advertising salesperson for the Mansfield News Journal before he was deployed. Lyons was KIA on July 28, 2005, in Cykla, Iraq, from enemy fire.

Lance Cpl. Aaron H. Reed, 21 years old. He was born in his hometown, Chillicothe, Ohio, on Aug. 23, 1983. Reed was KIA on Aug. 3, 2005, in Barwanah, Iraq, by an IED.

Sgt. David N. Wimberg, 24 years old. He was born in his hometown, Louisville, Ky., on Jan. 24, 1981. Wimberg was KIA on May 25, 2005, in Haditha, Iraq, while leading his squad in a firefight.

Pfc. Christopher R. Dixon was 18 years old. Born in Columbus, Ohio, on July 24, 1986, Dixon called Obetz, Ohio, home. He was KIA on May 11, 2005, at Al Qa’im, Iraq, by an IED.

Lance Cpl. Michael J. Cifuentes was 25 years old. He was born in Hamilton, Ohio, on June 25, 1980. Cifuentes called Fairfield, Ohio, home. He was KIA on Aug. 3, 2005, at Barwanah, Iraq, by an IED.

Lance Cpl. Nicholas William Baart Bloem was 20 years old. Born in Bellevue, Washington, on Aug. 2, 1985, Nick called Belgrade, Mont., home. He was KIA on Aug. 3, 2005, at Barwanah, Iraq, by an IED.

Lance Cpl. Nicholas B. Erdy was 21 years old. He was born in Columbus, Ohio, on Oct. 22, 1983. Erdy called Owensville, Ohio, home. He was KIA on May 11, 2005, in Al Qa’im, Iraq, by an IED.

Cpl. Dustin A. Derga was 24 years old. He was born in Columbus, Ohio, on Aug. 18, 1980. Derga’s hometown is Pickerington, Ohio. He was KIA on May 8, 2005, in New Ubaydi, Iraq, from enemy fire.

Cpl. Andre´ “Dre´” L. Williams was 23 years old. He was born in Lima, Ohio, on Aug. 9, 1981; he called Galloway, Ohio, home. He was KIA on July 28, 2005, in Cykla, Iraq, from enemy fire.

Lance Cpl. Grant B. Fraser was 22 years old. Fraser was born in his hometown, Anchorage, Alaska, on Feb. 3, 1983. He was KIA on Aug. 3, 2005, in Barwanah, Iraq, by an IED.

Staff Sgt. Kendall H. Ivy II was 28 years old. He was born in his hometown, Galion, Ohio, on Sept. 15, 1976. Ivy was KIA on May 11, 2005, at New Ubaydi, Iraq, by an IED.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Travis L. Youngblood was 26 years old. Born at Pensacola Naval Base, Florida, on June 5, 1979, Youngblood called Ivor, Va., home. He died on July 21, 2005, at Medical Treatment Facility from wounds received at Hit, Iraq, on July 15, 2005, caused by an IED.

Lance Cpl. William Brett Wightman was 22 years old. He was born in Fayette County, Ohio, on Jan. 11, 1983; he called Sabina, Ohio, home. Wightman was KIA on Aug. 3, 2005, at Barwanah, Iraq, by an IED.

Lance Cpl. Edward August “Augie” Schroeder II was 23 years old. He was born in Columbus, Ohio, on April 10, 1982; his hometown is South Orange, N. J. Schroeder was KIA on Aug. 3, 2005, at Barwanah, Iraq, by an IED.

Staff Sgt. Anthony L. Goodwin was 33 years old. He was born in Fitchburg, Mass., on May 28, 1971; Shirley, Mass., is his home. He was KIA on May 8, 2005, at New Ubaydi, Iraq, from enemy fire.

Sgt. Justin F. Hoffman was 27 years old. He was born in Orange, Calif., on November 9, 1977; his hometown is Delaware, Ohio. Hoffman was KIA on Aug. 3, 2005, at Barwanah, Iraq, by an IED.

Sgt. David Kenneth John Kreuter was 26 years old. He was born in his hometown, Cincinnati on June 25, 1979. Kreuter was KIA on Aug. 3, 2005, at Barwanah, Iraq, by an IED.

Lance Cpl. Jourdan Lin Grez was 24 years old. He was born in Little Silver, N. J., and called Richmond, Va., home. Grez was KIA on May 11, 2005, at Al Qa’im, Iraq, by an IED.

Lance Cpl. Timothy M. Bell Jr. was 22 years old. He was born in Kansas City, Mo., on May 11, 1983. His hometown is West Chester, Ohio. Bell was KIA on Aug. 3, 2005, at Barwanah, Iraq, by an IED.

Lance Cpl. Jonathan W. Grant was 23 years old. Born on April 15, 1982, he called Espanola, N. M., home. He was KIA on May 11, 2005, at Al Qa’im, Iraq, by an IED.


    • Young Americans Documentary
    • Learn More About Pat
    • blogroll

      • A Soldier's Perspective
      • Ace Of Spades
      • American Soldier
      • Ann Coulter
      • Attack Machine
      • Bill Ardolino
      • Bill Roggio
      • Black Five
      • Blonde Sagacity
      • Breitbart
      • Chicagoray
      • Confederate Yankee
      • Day by Day Cartoon
      • Euphoric Reality
      • Flopping Aces
      • Free Republic
      • Frontier Web Design
      • Hot Air
      • Hugh Hewitt
      • Ian Schwartz
      • Instapundit
      • Jules Crittenden
      • Little Green Footballs
      • Matt Sanchez
      • Michael Fumento
      • Michael Yon
      • Michelle Malkin
      • Military.com
      • Missiles And Stilletos
      • Move America Forward
      • Mudville Gazette
      • Pass The Ammo
      • Protest Warrior
      • Roger L. Simon
      • Sportsman's Outfit
      • Stop The ACLU
      • TCOverride
      • The Belmont Club
      • The Big God Blog
      • The Crimson Blog
      • The Daily Gut
      • The Drudge Report
      • The PoliTicking Timebomb
      • The Pundit Review
      • Veteran's Affairs Documentary

4 Responses

  1. Birdddog

    :cry: :sad:

  2. Monkey3531

    :beer: :beer: :beer:
    for all of you who fought the good fight and lived the good life
    Semper Fi devil dogs, rest in peace

  3. Kurt(the infidel)

    These men will never be forgotten, they will be remembered by their loved ones and through these paintings we will all remember :beer: :beer:

  4. 0311YutYut

    RIP SSgt Ivy. He was my instructor in Infantry School. Passed on a lot of good knowledge to a lot of young Marines.

Respond now.

alert Be respectful of others and their opinions. Inflammatory remarks and inane leftist drivel will be deleted. It ain’t about free speech, remember you’re in a private domain. My website, my prerogative.

alert If you can't handle using your real email address, don't bother posting a comment.

:mrgreen::neutral::twisted::arrow::shock::smile::???::cool::evil::grin::idea::oops::razz::roll::wink::cry::eek::lol::mad::sad::!::?::beer::beer: