Osnaburg, East Canton American legion memorializes veterans, award diplomas
EAST CANTON − Charles Wade left behind his senior year at East Canton High School to enlist in the U.S. Marines and join the war effort in Vietnam.
Wade, whom everyone knew as Freddie, joined the war effort in Vietnam in October 1968.
But just three months after arriving in Vietnam, he was fatally shot on Jan. 15, 1969, while in central Vietnam. The 20-year-old former Hercules Engines employee became Stark County’s 67th serviceman to die in Vietnam, Canton Repository archives show.
On Friday, Osnaburg Local Schools and the Lowell D. Oberly Post 667 American Legion surprised Wade’s family with his high school diploma.
To make the moment more authentic, East Canton High School Principal Gary Hinton read the same ceremonial rites that he reads during the district's annual high school graduation. School board member Jacob Lesher then presented the diploma to Wade’s sister, Donna Wade Rowland.
“His sacrifice is appreciated and I’m proud to say that Charles is a graduate of East Canton High School,” Lesher said.
Rowland’s lips quivered and tears welled in her eyes as she accepted the diploma.
“He would’ve been so honored,” Rowland said after the ceremony with tears in her eyes again. "He wasn’t over there very long.”
Ohio veterans can receive diplomas thanks to lesser-known state law
Osnaburg bestowed the diploma upon Wade posthumously through a lesser-known state law. Ohio Revised Code 3313.616 allows school boards to grant diplomas to the men and women who left high school before earning their diploma due to their service during World War II, the Korean War or the Vietnam War. The law applies to military veterans as well as women who joined either the workforce to support their families or the war effort.
Robert Morrison, commander of Lowell D. Oberly Post 667 American Legion, submitted the application for Wade’s diploma after learning about the law from Osnaburg Superintendent Kevin Finefrock. He said the Stark County Veterans Service Commission helped him complete the paperwork.
“I think any student that decides, especially at that time, to leave school and join the military for their country and sacrifice their lives has the privilege of at least receiving a complete high school diploma,” said Morrison, who graduated in 1967 from East Canton High School and knew Wade as a fellow car enthusiast.
The diploma presentation was part of a Veterans Day ceremony to dedicate a new veterans memorial at Osnaburg Local. The memorial display case includes a photo, biographical information and service awards for each of the five East Canton veterans.
It also includes a shadow box with a folded American flag, a medallion for each branch of the armed service, an inscription by Morrison and a QR code that gives students and visitors access to additional information about the veterans.
The memorial, which was created by art teacher Cathy Bravis, came together came after Morrison visited the school to get some information for a reunion he was helping to organize.
“I noticed that there were two 8 ½-by-11 photographs in the back of a trophy case,” Morrison said. “I knew one of the gentlemen who went to the school with me at the same time. The other, I knew him by name. I thought that it’s a shame to have them in the back of the trophy case, that we need to do something more.”
Who are the other veterans honored at Osnaburg?
Besides Wade, the memorial honors:
Lt. Lowell D. Oberly, a 1939 East Canton High School graduate who served in the U.S. Army Air Corps. The 22-year-old was reported missing on Jan. 22, 1944, while conducting a mission over Italy. Oberly had completed more than 900 combat hours of flying over Italy, France, Germany, Austria and Greece.
Sgt. Harold J. “Skip” Vierheller Jr., a 1960 East Canton High School graduate who served in the U.S. Marine Corps. He was fatally shot in Vietnam on April 30, 1968 at the age of 25 when his unit was ambushed, archives show.
Airman First Class Joseph P. Soule, who left high school before graduation and served in the U.S. Air Force. Soule drowned on March 28, 1970, when an undercurrent carried him out into South China Sea, archives show. The 20-year-old had been on temporary duty in Vietnam. Osnaburg awarded Soule a high school diploma on Friday, but Morrison said the Legion has been unable to locate Soule’s family.
Staff Sgt. Kevin J. Kessler, a 1996 East Canton High School graduate who served in the U.S. Army. The 32-year-old motor transport operator was killed with four other soldiers on Aug. 30, 2010, by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan.
Superintendent Finefrock believes the memorial will serve as an inspiration to students.
“Memorializing our fallen veterans provides our students with great examples of unique journeys that will inspire them, that will motivate them and teach patriotism, courage and bravery,” Finefrock said.
Osnaburg’s three schools have each been recognized by the state as military friendly Purple Star Schools.
Dan Kessler, the younger brother of veteran Kevin Kessler, thanked the district and the legion for bringing the families and friends of the five East Canton graduates together.
“Time does go on, but that feeling never diminishes,” he said, noting the commonalities that exist among the families.
Wade’s nephew Roger Rowland, who was 4 years old when Wade died, said he was moved by hearing stories about the uncle he never got to meet.
“It brings him to life again,” said Rowland, who served in the U.S. Army for 23 years. "I'm glad for the stories."
Reach Kelli at 330-580-8339 or kelli.weir@cantonrep.com.
On Twitter: @kweirREP
This article originally appeared on The Repository: East Canton military veterans memoralized, get diplomas posthumously
