On display in the main hall of the Edmonson County Courthouse is a very special collection of approximately 1200 photographs of Edmonson County veterans, and throughout the Commonwealth, no one can recall another like it.
Arranged behind over twenty glass paneled cabinets, 98% of the photographs are properly labeled with names, some units, and many accomplishments. The collection was established early in World War II by a local World War I hero, Pleas Sanders, (pronounced Plez) an Army veteran who was the recipient of our nation’s second highest medal for heroism, The Distinguished Service Cross, with help from Perry Meloan, the Editor of the Edmonson News.
As World War II commenced, Pleas and Perry (known to many as Uncle Perry) were able to convince many local families to give a photograph of their serviceman or woman for display in our most central place, the courthouse hallway. Pleas meticulously labeled the photos and as the war progressed he added his own coding – a Gold Star for Killed In Action, a Bronze or Silver Star for heroic actions, and Purple Hearts, many Purple Hearts – for wounds, while Meloan reprinted news from Servicemen and women in the Edmonson News and mailed newspaper copies to them around the world. Before the age of social media, Pleas Sanders and Perry Meloan had created the very special form of social media where citizens of the county could monitor, mourn, commiserate, and share the status of their loved ones who were literally scattered all over the earth, while sharing the bonds of community, neighbors, friends, and family. The panels tell a story of a community that answers the nation’s call to service in war.
The hallway today is still stunning. Our modern day hallway curator Maurita Miller, with support from our local Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Auxiliary Chapter, dutifully repairs frames, rehangs photos as they fall, updates the cross-referenced index for the collection, and hangs new images of our youngest veterans. Our county was recognized by Congress during the height of the Iraq War as having the highest per capita Army enlistment rate in the nation, perhaps in part, because of the heritage those youth observed in their courthouse hallway growing up.
But this priceless, one-of-a-kind collection is vulnerable. The photographic paper already shows age and some decay, but more importantly, they could be destroyed overnight in the event of a fire, flood, or sprinkler activation. After discussion with community members and Brownsville DAV and VFW members, a group was formed with the express purpose of preserving through digitization, the priceless photographs that hang in the hallway. Non-profit 501c3 status has been secured for the Edmonson County Hall of Heroes Conservation Project, Inc., and work has already begun, initially funded by a $1500 donation from Nesbit Alexander VFW Post #6937 members from Brownsville.
Over time, Pleas added Civil War, Spanish-American War, World War I, as well as our post-World War II conflicts.
For example, take glass panel #3. On the right center of panel 3 is a portrait of a young Marine in his dress blues with a Medal of Honor draped around his neck. Looking up Luther Skaggs on Wikipedia, who's father's family was from the Mt. Zion/Windyville area of Edmonson County, today we can find:
Arranged behind over twenty glass paneled cabinets, 98% of the photographs are properly labeled with names, some units, and many accomplishments. The collection was established early in World War II by a local World War I hero, Pleas Sanders, (pronounced Plez) an Army veteran who was the recipient of our nation’s second highest medal for heroism, The Distinguished Service Cross, with help from Perry Meloan, the Editor of the Edmonson News.
As World War II commenced, Pleas and Perry (known to many as Uncle Perry) were able to convince many local families to give a photograph of their serviceman or woman for display in our most central place, the courthouse hallway. Pleas meticulously labeled the photos and as the war progressed he added his own coding – a Gold Star for Killed In Action, a Bronze or Silver Star for heroic actions, and Purple Hearts, many Purple Hearts – for wounds, while Meloan reprinted news from Servicemen and women in the Edmonson News and mailed newspaper copies to them around the world. Before the age of social media, Pleas Sanders and Perry Meloan had created the very special form of social media where citizens of the county could monitor, mourn, commiserate, and share the status of their loved ones who were literally scattered all over the earth, while sharing the bonds of community, neighbors, friends, and family. The panels tell a story of a community that answers the nation’s call to service in war.
The hallway today is still stunning. Our modern day hallway curator Maurita Miller, with support from our local Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Auxiliary Chapter, dutifully repairs frames, rehangs photos as they fall, updates the cross-referenced index for the collection, and hangs new images of our youngest veterans. Our county was recognized by Congress during the height of the Iraq War as having the highest per capita Army enlistment rate in the nation, perhaps in part, because of the heritage those youth observed in their courthouse hallway growing up.
But this priceless, one-of-a-kind collection is vulnerable. The photographic paper already shows age and some decay, but more importantly, they could be destroyed overnight in the event of a fire, flood, or sprinkler activation. After discussion with community members and Brownsville DAV and VFW members, a group was formed with the express purpose of preserving through digitization, the priceless photographs that hang in the hallway. Non-profit 501c3 status has been secured for the Edmonson County Hall of Heroes Conservation Project, Inc., and work has already begun, initially funded by a $1500 donation from Nesbit Alexander VFW Post #6937 members from Brownsville.
Over time, Pleas added Civil War, Spanish-American War, World War I, as well as our post-World War II conflicts.
For example, take glass panel #3. On the right center of panel 3 is a portrait of a young Marine in his dress blues with a Medal of Honor draped around his neck. Looking up Luther Skaggs on Wikipedia, who's father's family was from the Mt. Zion/Windyville area of Edmonson County, today we can find:
The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR to
PRIVATE FIRST CLASS LUTHER SKAGGS JR.
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS RESERVEfor service as set forth in the following CITATION:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as Squad Leader with a Mortar Section of Kilo Company in the Third Battalion, Third Marines, Third Marine Division, during action against enemy Japanese forces on the Asan-Adelup Beachhead, Guam, Marianas Islands, on 21–22 July 1944. When the section leader became a casualty under a heavy mortar barrage shortly after landing, Private First Class Skaggs promptly assumed command and led the section through intense fire for a distance of 200 yards to a position from which to deliver effective coverage of the assault on a strategic cliff. Valiantly defending this vital position against strong enemy counterattacks during the night, Private First Class Skaggs was critically wounded when a Japanese grenade lodged in his foxhole and exploded, shattering the lower part of one leg. Quick to act, he applied an improvised tourniquet and, while propped up in his foxhole, gallantly returned the enemy's fire with his rifle and hand grenades for a period of eight hours, later crawling unassisted to the rear to continue to fight until the Japanese had been annihilated. Uncomplaining and calm throughout this critical period, Private First Class Skaggs served as a heroic example of courage and fortitude to other wounded men and, by his courageous leadership and inspiring devotion to duty, upheld the highest traditions for the United States Naval Service.
Signed Franklin D. Roosevelt
PRIVATE FIRST CLASS LUTHER SKAGGS JR.
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS RESERVEfor service as set forth in the following CITATION:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as Squad Leader with a Mortar Section of Kilo Company in the Third Battalion, Third Marines, Third Marine Division, during action against enemy Japanese forces on the Asan-Adelup Beachhead, Guam, Marianas Islands, on 21–22 July 1944. When the section leader became a casualty under a heavy mortar barrage shortly after landing, Private First Class Skaggs promptly assumed command and led the section through intense fire for a distance of 200 yards to a position from which to deliver effective coverage of the assault on a strategic cliff. Valiantly defending this vital position against strong enemy counterattacks during the night, Private First Class Skaggs was critically wounded when a Japanese grenade lodged in his foxhole and exploded, shattering the lower part of one leg. Quick to act, he applied an improvised tourniquet and, while propped up in his foxhole, gallantly returned the enemy's fire with his rifle and hand grenades for a period of eight hours, later crawling unassisted to the rear to continue to fight until the Japanese had been annihilated. Uncomplaining and calm throughout this critical period, Private First Class Skaggs served as a heroic example of courage and fortitude to other wounded men and, by his courageous leadership and inspiring devotion to duty, upheld the highest traditions for the United States Naval Service.
Signed Franklin D. Roosevelt
The Hall of Honor curator is Maurita Miller of the DAV Auxiliary. The project advisor is past VFW Post Commander LtCol USMC (retired) Floyd Houston. The digitization and creative works are under the supervision of Darren Doyle, owner of The Edmonson Voice, the local digital news outlet in Edmonson County, Ky.