By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com
It was a time of celebration and remembrance Tuesday night as five new members entered the Crawford County Veterans Hall of Fame.
The Class of 2014 included two of the Hall of Fame’s initial organizers. Crawford County Veterans Hall of Fame co-founder Delmer Glick, Crawford County Veterans Hall of Fame President Charles Christman, Henry Kuhn, Clarence Long, and Donald Wenner were all enshrined in ceremonies at Alex Kish Memorial Gymnasium in Bucyrus.
After the ceremony Christman shared his reaction to the honor bestowed on Veterans Day.
“I am humbled and honored,” Christman said. “My name has been put in for five times, and I keep throwing it out saying ‘no,’ and they told me this year I had to go in.”
Christman, a Bucyrus resident, served in the Vietnam War earning numerous awards including the Purple Heart. Christman is involved in numerous local veterans’ associations and serves as vice president of the Bucyrus Memorial Society placing flags on veterans’ graves for over 30 years.
Helping to co-found the Crawford County Veterans Hall of Fame in 2006, Vietnam Era veteran as an ammunitions supply specialist, Delmer Glick was enshrined posthumously Tuesday night. Glick who served for three years from 1962-1965 spent 28 months in Germany and France shipping all ammunition orders for outside the United States.
The master of ceremonies for the evening, George Ondick, gave an emotional introduction of Glick.
“Good friends are hard to come by, and Delmer was my best friend” Ondick said.
Glick’s widow Joan and daughter Shauna accepted the award on Glick’s behalf.
Bucyrus resident Henry Kuhn served during World War II, and was the only survivor of his crew when his bomber was shot down over Italy on Aug. 27, 1943. Kuhn was taken in as a POW until he was rescued on Oct. 5, 1943. Kuhn returned to Ohio and became a salesman for Prudential retiring in 1983.
Accepting the posthumous award for Kuhn was his daughter Virginia.
“My father would be proud. He loved his community so much,” Virginia said.
While speaking, Kuhn’s daughter showed a picture of her father with his plane and crew that had been shot down.
“I also would like to honor his crew members with this as well,” Virginia said.
Clarence Long served two stints in the United States Army from 1950-1953 and 1957-1959. During his first tour of duty Long saw action in the Korean War. During his service Long received numerous medals including the Purple Heart.
Being inducted posthumously, Long’s brother Harry accepted on his behalf.
“I would like to thank all of the veterans that served our Country,” Harry said.
The final inductee of the evening was Donald Wenner. Wenner served in both World War II and the Korean War. Wenner started out as part of the Army Medical Corps, after not receiving orders Wenner was notified by the Army to apply for a Navy position due to a shortage of physicians. During the Korean War Wenner served on the USS Windom Bay.
After returning to Bucyrus from active duty Wenner was an active member of the Bucyrus community serving as a member of the Bucyrus school board, Board of Council on Aging, and the Crawford-Marion ADAMH Board amongst others.
Upon his induction the 94-year-old Wenner was short on words.
“I have two thoughts about this,” Wenner said. “The first is gratitude for the honor, the second I am not sure if I deserve it.”
Bucyrus Mayor Jeff Reser was the first speaker of the evening.
“Tonight we gather to honor heroes,” Reser said. “We gather to say thank you. You took an oath to live up to your country.”
“Tonight’s ceremony is to celebrate all who have served in Crawford County,” Reser continued.
County Commissioner Doug Weisenauer spoke on behalf of the commissioners thanking the veterans who served. While speaking Weisenauer announced that a new Veterans Hall of Fame memorial would be constructed outside of the courthouse.
Lt. Col. Robert Dunlap of the 179th Air Wing of the Ohio National Guard was the keynote speaker of the event.
“This is truly an honor to be the keynote speaker for these five individuals,” Dunlap said during his speech. “Military life is built around sacrifice and a great devotion to the United States. While the technology has changed what makes the military does not.”
Also speaking at the event was State Representative Jeff McClain, Dave Hilliard, and Don Scheerer of the Disabled American Veterans.
The county high school bands once again came together to perform for the event. Under the direction of Colonel Crawford Music Director Shaun Shotwell, the combined bands played patriotic selections, as well as a medley of anthems of the Armed Forces as each branch’s flag was displayed.