Leesburg Fire Service Monument Erected
By Deb Patterson
InkFreeNews
LEESBURG — A monument has been erected on the southwest corner of the Leesburg Fire Station, at the corner of Armstrong Road and Old SR 15. This monument is a fire service monument recognizing past, present and future firefighters.
The front of the three-sided monument carries plaques — a prayer, respect, honoring and challenge. The back side will feature a 16-by-20-inch plaque listing names of those who participated in the construction, gave financial contributions and service recognition donations.
On the front the plaques read:
Our Prayer — “Lord, give me the courage to face and conquer all of my fears, and the strength of body and spirit to help all those in need: Lord, protect me always. Amen.”
Respect — “For those who have served before us.”
Honoring — “Those who continue to respond to those in need.”
Challenge — “Those who follow to continue the excellent service and tradition.”
“This means a lot to us,” said Mitch Rader, a member of the fire department and former fire chief. “The volunteers put it together to respect those who served before us, honor those now and those we will be putting into service.”
The idea was born after a donation to the Leesburg/Plain Township Fire Department from the Gary Polk family following his death on April 15, 2019. Polk was a member of the fire department. Members of the department began discussions and it was decided to look at some type of monument or memorial to honor the department’s past firefighters.
Rader was visiting South Haven, Mich., and downtown, in the middle of the street, he saw a tall four-sided monument honoring past firefighters, current firefighters and challenging people to continue the tradition. Rader brought the idea back to the department.
A design was created and work began.
Bart Kammerer worked with Kuert Concrete, who donated the needed concrete. Butt and Timmons Construction was contracted for the concrete work. Rick and Cody Timmons offered their ideas and expertise in design and construction, adding an extra touch.
Ryan Mishler with St. Joe Monument helped with the final design and was contracted to get the granite and engraving on the plaques the department members desired. Bricks left from the historic brick streets in Leesburg were donated by the town to add color and a historical touch.
Two flagpoles were added to the existing American flagpole, allowing the American, state and fire service flags to be flown over the monument. Lighting was installed to display the monument at night and the Maltese cross was mounted on top of the monument as a tribute to both the Leesburg Fire Department and the Plain Township Fire Department.
The fire department was known as Leesburg Fire Company or Leesburg Fire Department from its beginning in 1879 until 1964, when Plain Township took over providing fire service.
A portion of the monument was completed in 2021, but due to delays of product availability it wasn’t completed until recently. The plaque recognizing those who made it possible will be installed in the near future.
But the monument was just built with the donation from the Polk family, Kuert Concrete and Butt and Timmons.
Additional service recognition donations were made by families to honor the service of family members to the local department. Those included the Edward Charlton family honoring Ed, Scott and Craig Charlton; Max Deatsman Family honoring Max and Brian Deatsman; Jerry Kammerer Family honoring Jerry, Scott, Todd and Bart Kammerer; and the Frank Rader Family honoring Frank and Mitch Rader.
Contributions also came from the Ruben and Betty Jane Clover Charitable Fund through the Kosciusko Community Foundation. Mrs. Clover was a Leesburg resident; her father, Lloyd, and brother, Jack, were on the fire department and her father had a store in town. The original fire bell in front of the station was also donated to the department by Mrs. Clover. “It was a fit she would have liked,” Rader stated.
Additionally the Mishler Family Foundation assisted with a generous donation to honor firefighters.
Craig Charlton, firefighter and incoming township trustee, noted there is space on the back side of the wall to place additional plaques, such as a plaque to honor a past or present firefighter.
There is hope the idea catches on by other departments to do something similar.