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Firefighters Rededicate World War I, Korean War Monuments

BELLAIRE — At about 11 a.m. Saturday, community members gathered at the Bellaire Volunteer Fire Department for a rededication of the city’s World War I and Korean War monuments.

Ben McKenzie, a volunteer firefighter with the department, led a brief ceremony, where he detailed the history of the restored memorials. He, with the fire department’s support and donations from area businesses, took charge of the project, yet he made sure to share the credit.

“Our fire department wanted to give this back to the community,” McKenzie said. “It had disappeared. These are our veterans. These are our people who fought and died. They should stand out instead of stay hidden.”

Prior to restoration, both monuments laid in disregard. Two cannons were overgrown by shrubs, and a fountain a few yards away stopped flowing. McKenzie said in his 22 years as a Bellaire resident this had been the case.

Bellaire once had its own memorial park, McKenzie added. He said it contained 38 trees, all of which were planted to commemorate the 38 local lives lost in the “Great War.” Now those names are etched in a stone tablet in front of the fire department.

The Rev. Dan Heusel, pastor of St. John Catholic Church in Bellaire, took a moment to read the list and say a prayer to himself prior to the service. He stood there, intermixed with a crowd of about 40, a quiet actor in an active scene, his head bowed. Then he pulled out a cellphone to snap a picture of the stone, and he held it out from his chest like anyone else.

“It’s important to remember those that gave their lives at such a young age,” Heusel said. “Anytime we can gather to honor them it builds us up, too.”

The ceremony went off without a hitch. All the groups were there, including the U.S. Army Reserve, Bellaire VFW Post 626, American Legion, and the Boy Scouts of America. Besty Bethel-McFarland played the bagpipes, performing several patriotic hymns. Politicians, including Ohio State Sen. Frank Hoagland, R-Mingo Junction, and Ohio State Rep. Jack Cera, D-Bellaire, also offered comments.

A 96-year-old man named William Schluter sat in the front row. He’s a veteran of World War II, having served in the Pacific as a member of the U.S. Army. He was hard of hearing and short of words, and his posture had given way to the years.

Still, Schluter said he appreciated the ceremony. He sat out there in the summer heat, wearing a baseball cap that explained who he was, to pay respect. He said it’s important to remember the lives and events that have influenced the present. Even if it was all very long ago.

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