Eyes of Freedom Memorial coming to Barnesville
The Eyes of Freedom: Lima Company Memorial will once again be at the Barnesville Pumpkin Festival. This traveling memorial depicts the fallen Marines and Navy Corpsman of Columbus-based Lima Company, one of the most heavily engaged units of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The Eyes of Freedom: Lima Company Memorial was created as a result of an Ohio artist’s vision, in which Anita Miller saw the finished memorial and felt she was being asked to create it. With the help of the families of thefallen and the returned Marines of Lima Company, the work was created and unveiled in the Ohio State HouseRotunda in 2008, as the vision foretold.
Although the paintings in this memorial specifically depict 23 fallen Marines, it has become much more. Themission of the nonprofit, Eyes of Freedom is to honor the service and sacrifice of all who answer our nation’scall. Behind each portrait one feels the spirit of the thousands of men and women who have served ourcountry, in every branch of the armed forces, not forgetting the returning veterans coming home to us.
One of the fallen honored in this memorial was 25-year-old Marine Sgt Brad Harper of Dresden. He was killed on Aug. 3, 2005, south of Hadithah, Iraq, when his amphibious assault vehicle was attacked during combat operations.
In 2018 the tribute expanded to include artist Anita’s newest creation: a life-sized bronzed sculpture of aserviceman seated with head down, his face depicting emotions of the internal Silent Battle, as the touchablework is aptly named. He represents our nation’s veterans who struggle with post-traumatic stress andthoughts of suicide, as they navigate life after combat. This sculpture brings awareness, hope, andhealing to all who come in contact.
This traveling tribute is supported by a board of directors and a two-man touring team, each with a personalconnection to the men in the paintings. Mike Strahle is a purple heart combat vet who fought alongside thesemen and was badly injured in one of the attacks. Sean Flaharty was a personal friend of fallen Marine JustinHoffman and helped support the memorial as a volunteer for years before becoming part of the touring team. Both Strahle and Flaharty offer personal insight into the history and experience of this memorial.
The memorial will be open at 6 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 19 and from noon to 8 p.m. on Sept. 21 to 24, and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 25. It will be at the Barnesville Exempted Village Middle School, 970 Shamrock Dr. Barnesville.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Jeffersonian: Eyes of Freedom Memorial coming to Barnesville
