Snyders donate bench to Millersburg veterans memorial
Gary and Karin Snyder donated a second bench to the Millersburg Veterans Memorial in honor and memory of Gary Snyder’s friend and schoolmate Larry Barton, who was killed in action during the Vietnam War.
With every step of the process, the committee of Holmes County veterans who are spearheading the drive to build a veterans memorial on Glen Drive in Millersburg get closer to their dream of creating something that will properly memorialize and honor Holmes County veterans who are missing in action, killed in action or were prisoners of war.
With the first two steps of the equation in place, those being the placing of the flag at the center of the monument and the placement of the stone pavers, the committee received one more donation recently that added beauty and functionality to the monument’s growth.
With one granite bench already in place, Gary and Karin Snyder donated a second bench to the memorial, and a group gathered there to dedicate it on Tuesday, April 16.
The Snyders donated the bench in honor and memory of Spec. Larry Dean Barton, with whom Gary went to school prior to the war.
“Larry was in school with Larry Hardin and I. He was our classmate, teammate and really good friend,” Gary Snyder said. “We wanted to do something that would commemorate his legacy and service.”
Snyder said he was serving in Vietnam in the Air Force at the time his friend, who was serving in the Army, was killed in 1967. He didn’t find out about the death until close to two months later when he read the Stars and Stripes newspaper that was published there that contained the daily deaths of soldiers.
“I glanced through it and saw his name listed and didn’t want to believe it,” Snyder said. “I was heartbroken. It stuns you, and it was such a moving thing.”
Snyder said every soldier understood the peril and the stakes when serving in Vietnam, but it still came as a shock to see his good friend’s name.
In committing funds to the granite bench, the Snyders put out some feelers to classmates of the Millersburg High School Class of
1965. He challenged them to donate, although he paid for the bench initially.
Donations have come in and continue to come in, and the bench was built by Ted Money of Thompson Memorials in Millersburg.
The prior bench at the Millersburg monument was placed in memory of Spec. James Clark of Millersburg, who was killed in Vietnam while serving.
“These men who served and died never had a chance to grow old, get married, or be a father or a grandfather,” Snyder said. “Their lives were cut short because they chose to serve others and their country, so it’s up to us to live lives worthy of their honor.”
Barton wasn’t the only friend Snyder lost in Vietnam. His wingman William James Reed from Cambridge, Ohio was eventually shot down and killed on his 17th mission over Cambodia in 1970.
“They couldn’t get in to recover search for anyone because the weather was so bad at the time and because of heavy fire,” Snyder said.
His body was not recovered until 2017 when his remains were returned home and his body was identified through dental records.
“It was good for the family to get closure, and I find out they put up a memorial in his honor in Cambridge,” Snyder said. “Honoring men like Larry and William and the sacrifice they made is why this memorial is so important, because there are way too many men who gave their lives and were missing or captured who deserve our respect and deserve to be honored.”
Thus, the building of this monument honoring soldiers like Reed holds special meaning for Snyder, who spent three tours of service in the Air Force and one in the Army.
As for the coming monument, Snyder said it will serve a great purpose as a reminder to all those who gave their lives for everyone’s freedom.
Phase three of the Glen Drive monument is being planned now, which is the erection of the brick walls around the east and south side of the monument. Plans are for that work to begin soon.
“We’re excited to see everything continue to take shape,” said Jim Miller, one of the veterans spearheading the monument effort. “To think about building this in one big shot is overwhelming, but when you do it step by step, it becomes manageable, and we continue to get incredible support from the community.”
Anyone interested in supporting the monument project may do so by sending a check or money order to the veterans office at 330-601-4058. Donations can be made to Holmes County Veterans Memorial and sent to the Holmes County Veterans Office at 75 E. Clinton St., Suite 104, Millersburg, OH 44654.
Those donating to the project should note the funds are for the Holmes County Veterans Memorial Fund in the memo line of the check. Miller said the group welcomes any thoughts and ideas from the community on what they’d like to see at the memorial as they work their way through the next phase of the project.