More Sleepwalker Pictures

The Greatest Generation

RITTMAN - The city paused a bit July 28 in its revelry to honor "The Greatest Generation."
As part of the Sleepwalker Festival, the intersection of Main Street and Ohio Avenue filled up after the parade that night to give a salute to the veterans of the Second World War.
"I am truly honored to have this opportunity to welcome you to this special tribute to a group of local heroes," Mayor Bill Robertson said in his opening remarks. "We are humbled by their service to our country and we honor them today as a symbolic representation of all World War II veterans from throughout our area, our state and our nation."
The tribute began solemnly with long-deferred honors for a deceased veteran. Cpl. John Grieves died in 1950 and was buried without military honors in Cleveland. His daughter, Jackie Grieves-Bauman, had his remains transferred to Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery in 2002. The 555th Honors Detachment, a group of volunteer veterans who provide honors at the national cemetery, saw an opportunity both to give Grieves the honors he didn't get and to let the general public see a military funeral.
"The 555th wanted to do a memorial service," said funeral director Bob Gillman, whose business provided the hearse and empty casket for the service, said. "A lot of the public doesn't get to witness a military funeral."
Gillman Funeral Home also provided flowers to Grieves' family.
Veteran Chuck Craig narrated each segment of the funeral service as the honor guard brought the flag-draped casket out and folded the flag, presenting it to Bauman. A squad of seven riflemen fired three volleys in salute.
After the funeral honors, 10 World War II veterans were escorted to the platform on the east side of the intersection. Presenters from the 555th read a brief synopsis of each veteran's service and the mayor presented each with a proclamation. Representatives from the state and county governments were also there to salute the veterans, as well as a member of U.S. Representative Jim Renacci's office.
"Honoring these veterans today lets the veterans of our current wars know that they will not be forgotten," Maj. Gen. Todd Carmony of the Indiana National Guard said.
Carmony reminded the audience that about 12 percent of the nation's population at the time fought in the second World War, compared with less than 1 percent in our two wars today.
"Those who were not serving produced materials for the war at a tremendous rate," Carmony said, adding that the enormous casualty rate of the conflict meant nearly every family in America was affected in some way.
"By their example, we learned what it means to be an American," Carmony said.
Honored veterans were: Joseph De Luca Jr., Army; Dale Roher, Army Air Corps; Ike Frase, Army; Dean Foster, Navy; Robert McCarter, Navy; Francis Elmerick, Merchant Marine; Meryle Schaefer, Army Air Corps; Lloyd Boyer, Army; George Allenbaugh, Navy; and Orin Rufener, Army.
One of the veterans is also a prominent Rittman citizen. Dale Rohrer and his wife Elizabeth were both honored as Outstanding Citizens by the mayor.