The Veterans Service Commission proposed the idea for a memorial to be installed near the Humvee Memorial site at the Batavia Township Community Center, and Batavia Trustees thought it would be a great addition to the memorial already installed.
The memorial honors the 14 Clermont County men who died serving the country from the Persian Gulf War forward.
“On behalf of the township this is a great honor for us,” Trustee Jim Sauls said about unveiling the memorial. “When we built the Humvee Memorial, that was great, but we couldn’t be more sure of this.”
Trustees, Veterans’ Service Commission officials, as well as friends and family members of the fallen men were present for the unveiling of the memorial.
The names of the men were read out loud and family members were given an opportunity to place a rose beside the memorial in honor of their loved-one.
“Our hearts go out to you all and we want to thank you for raising such heroes,” Commissioner Bob Proud said before names were read.
Staff Sergeant Chuck Kiser (Iraq), Specialist Gregory Missman (Afghanistan), Staff Sergeant Matthew Maupin (Iraq), Specialist Joseph Bauer (Afghanistan), Staff Sergeant Tony Wojciechowski (Iraq), Lance Corporal Nick Erdy (Iraq), Captain Tyler Swisher (Iraq), Lance Corporal Bryan Taylor (Iraq), Lance Corporal Billy Spencer (Iraq), Sergeant Phillip McNeill (Iraq), Captain David Seth Mitchell (Afghanistan), Specialist Jacob Dohrenwend, Senior Airman Todd Rose and Lance Corporal James Lumpkins (Saudi Arabia) were all honored for their service.
The names of the men, as well as their dates of birth and death, are engraved on the memorial, which was created by Rolf Monuments. For Staff Sgt. Matt Maupin, whose date of death is unknown, the stone reads “Known only by God.”
“It’s wonderful they did that to remember all of them,” Carolyn Maupin, Matt Maupin’s mother, said. “That way they’ll never be forgotten.”
For many family members seeing the memorial was bitter-sweet. While it brought back sadness that their loved ones are no longer alive, it also provides a place where the fallen heroes can be remembered.
“They’ll never be forgotten because their names will always be here,” Glenda Kiser, Chuck Kiser’s mother, said about the memorial.
She said she didn’t quite have words to describe how wonderful it felt to see her son’s name on the memorial.
“It’s beautiful,” Jim Missman, Greg Missman’s father, said about the memorial. “We’re a community and county that just keeps on remembering. As a Gold Star parent I really appreciate it.”