WWII Honor Roll recognizing locals unveiled in Lawrenceburg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fh7D1-3JnR8

(LAWRENCEBURG, Ind.) – It was common during World War II for towns and communities to display honor rolls that recognized those who were serving in the military. 

More than 80 years after the war ended, a replica Honor Roll was unveiled in Lawrenceburg on Saturday, July 4. 

A ceremony was held at Newtown Park where it will be on display through the month of July. That park is located at U.S. 50 and Park Street.

After July, it will be taken to the Lawrenceburg Community Center where it will be permanently displayed. 

This project was inspired by Dearborn County Historical Society member Jim Fulton who approached Lawrenceburg Mayor Kelly Mollaun about the idea. The mayor approved and even provided funding for the project.

Fulton led the initiative to identify every Dearborn County person who served in the military between December 1941 and August of 1945. 

It was an extensive task as a database that documents military service during World War II does not exist.

“These names were found through old newspaper articles, books, from official courthouse records and a myriad of other sources,” Fulton said.

The replica Honor Roll was unveiled Saturday with 2,900 names of those who served from Dearborn County.  

They are in alphabetical order and some names are in purple, to indicate a Purple Heart, or in red which means that soldier was killed during the war. 

From Dearborn County alone, there were 111 soldiers who were wounded in action while 84 made the ultimate sacrifice. 

Fulton thanked several organizations who made it possible including the City of Lawrenceburg, Signarama, Dearborn County Recorder’s Office, Dearborn County Veterans Service Officer Dave Currance and the Lawrenceburg Library. 

His wife, Sam Fulton, conducted the data entry while John Carton did the artwork.

Is there a name missing from the Honor Roll?

Fulton is aware that some names may have not made it on the Honor Roll. That is due to the challenges encountered during the research phase. 

“We are still searching for names. We know there were over 3,000 Dearborn County residents serving  in July 1945 so our effort goes on to find these names,” Fulton said. 

If you know of anyone who should be on the list, please email Fulton at:  gjfulton1940@gmail.com

The Original Honor Roll

The original Honor Roll was also located at Newtown Park and was unveiled around August of 1942. 

When new residents joined the military, a Greendale man would grab his ladder and paint their name onto the display. 

“In July of 1944, another section was added to accommodate all the names that were killed in action, wounded, missing in action and prisoners of war,” Fulton explained. 

He added that all Dearborn County natives who were missing in action or prisoners of war were located by the time the war came to an end. 

That first Honor Roll was sponsored by the Lawrenceburg Kiwanis Club and the Phi Beta Psi Sorority, who are both among the list of sponsors for the new display.

Other sponsors include:

• Lawrenceburg American Legion

• City of Lawrenceburg

• City of Greendale

• Lawrenceburg Eagles

• Stronghold Restaurant Group

• State Senator Randy Maxwell

• State Representative Garrett Bascom

• Rowe Construction

• Jeanette and Mark Dole

• Modern Printing Lawrenceburg

• Dearborn County GOP

• Dillsboro American Legion

• Jim and Sam Fulton

Community members are invited to visit the display as it will be located at Newtown Park until the end of this month.