HONORING the memories of fallen military veterans can take various forms. From public processions to Memorial Day ceremonies to the playing of taps.
The local community has another special tribute, too. It’s the Bartholomew County Memorial for Veterans, located in downtown Columbus on the lawn of the Bartholomew County Courthouse.
Dedicated on Memorial Day 1997, it contains the names of county residents who died while in military service, and also inscriptions from their letters home. The memorial honors their memories for all time on what amounts to a living historical record.
The recent additions of the names of Marine Cpl. John C. Bishop and Army Sgt. Jonathon M. Hunter on the Bartholomew County Memorial for Veterans is a well-deserved honor.
Bishop, a 2003 Columbus North High School graduate, died Sept. 8, 2010, at age 25 when a sniper shot him while he served in the Helmand Province in Afghanistan. Hunter, a 2011 Columbus East graduate, died Aug. 2 at age 23 during a suicide bombing attack in southern Afghanistan.
They served the United States faithfully and with passion, and made the ultimate sacrifice in fighting terrorism and protecting their country’s freedoms.
Now and forever, their names are etched in a place of honor that ensures their memories and legacies are not forgotten.
Send comments to [email protected].
