(PHOTOS PROVIDED / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
FULTON COUNTY FAIR MUST SEE … The Eyes of Freedom, a traveling memorial tribute, will return to Fulton County for the Fulton County Fair. Archbold Rotarians were told that the display, which features life size paintings of the 22 Marines and one Navy corpsman who were killed during an eight-month deployment to Iraq in 2005, now includes a sculpture called “The Silent Battle” to reflect on the PTSD and mental health issues that affect many combat veterans. The program was presented by a five-person committee that has made the arrangements for the display to be at the Fulton County Fair from August 30 through September 5. From left: Matt Gilroy and Kate Huskins, Fulton County Economic Development; Toni Schindler, Auqua Tek Water Conditioning; Luanne Strauss, Fulton County Fair Board; and Bill Rufenacht, Archbold Rotary Club.
Artist Anita Miller knew she had to do something to memorialize the 23 members of Lima Company who were killed between May and August of 2005 during a deployment to Iraq. Most of the soldiers were from Central Ohio.
The result: A traveling memorial tribute called “The Eyes of Freedom, Lima Company Memorial”, that includes nine panels where Miller painted life-size pictures of each soldier looking straight ahead.
The project took about three years to complete, and its first stop was the rotunda of the Ohio State House. Since 2008, the display has travelled to nearly 35 states and more than 360 events.
Its first stop to Fulton County occurred in 2019 when it was seen by about 1,500 people at the Fulton County Museum.
Since then, Miller has added a life-size bronze sculpture, “The Silent Battle,” that features a grieving soldier holding a friend’s dog tags to symbolize the lingering mental health issues that combat soldiers have to deal with.
The display returns to northwest Ohio to be part of this year’s Fulton County Fair from August 30 through September 5. It will be set up in the Industrial Building, which is located between the main Merchants’ Building and the ride midway.
Wauseon Rotarian Toni Schindler and Archbold Rotarian Bill Rufenacht helped organize the traveling memorial’s first visit to Fulton County as well as this year’s visit.
Schindler said the display is emotional, explaining the paintings are so life-like with the soldiers’ eyes looking right at you. Rufenacht added that he hopes many of the thousands of people who attend the Fulton County Fair will spend some time to look at The Eyes of Freedom display.
Schindler added that a program on the display will be part of the fair’s annual Veterans Day Breakfast.
SCULPTURE … Nine panels of the 23 servicemen who were killed during their deployment to Iraq in 2005 are part of the memorial tribute that will be displayed in the Industrial Building during this year’s Fulton County Fair. “The Silent Battle,” a life-size bronze sculpture, depicts a grieving soldier holding his friend’s dog tags.