GALION, Ohio — Mike Strahle said it’s been a long time coming to have “The Eyes of Freedom” exhibit showcased in the hometown of 1995 Galion graduate, Kendall Ivy II.
Strahle, who’s the director of The Eyes of Freedom, said he and his crew travel across the country to display the exhibit, which features life-size paintings depicting the 23 fallen Marines of the Lima Company. Ten years ago, this reserve unit from Columbus suffered one of the largest losses in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Staff Sgt. Kendall Ivy was among those who lost his life while serving with the Lima Company. He was 28 years old.
Strahle, a former Lima Company Marine, said, “[Ivy] wasn’t in Lima Company with us at first. My platoon sergeant, Anthony Goodwin, was killed on May 8, 2005. We were taking part in a huge offensive operation–Operation Matador–and we hadn’t sustained any casualties in the deployment for the two-and-a-half months we’d been there. But then on May 8, we lost our first two guys.”
He said the operation was so large that it couldn’t continue without additional support.
“So we flew Kendall Ivy in from a different unit. We were with him all of May 10 and we began moving on May 11 to the next city and that’s when our vehicle hit a roadside bomb,” he said.
From that explosion, Strahle was badly wounded and saw six of his comrades die, including Ivy.
Though he shared only a brief amount of time with Ivy, Strahle said he admired his leadership.
“When he came to us, he refused to allow us to continue the operation until he got to know our platoon because he had just come from a different unit and didn’t know any of us.
“I just really admired that,” he said.
While placing the exhibit in the Galion High School gymnasium, Strahle said, “It’s important for us to be here.”
American Legion Post 243 assisted Strahle with set-up and performed a ceremonial salute upon the memorial’s arrival at the high school.
Members of Ivy’s family also helped with set-up.
As the paintings were carried into the gymnasium, Kendall’s older brother, Keith, said, “It’s an honor to finally get this here.”
He spoke fondly of his brother, noting, “He loved being a Marine.
“A lot of people don’t know that when he was fresh out of high school, a Seattle Mariners scout wanted him to go try out for the Seattle Mariners, and he told him ‘No, sir. I joined the Marine Corps.’ So he turned down pitching possibly for a major league baseball team to be in the Marines.”
He said Kendall was the baby of the family. “For me, it was almost like losing a son because there were 12 years difference between us,” he said.
Kendall’s two youngest children, Reagan, 11, and Gabriel, 9, didn’t get to know their father before he died and so they appreciate when different opportunities arise that allow for them to hear stories about him, they said.
“I don’t think many people get this opportunity if their parents have passed away, so I think it’s an honor to have this here at our own school,” said Kendall’s 15-year-old son Harrison.
Kendall’s fourth and oldest child, Caleb, 16, said he aspires to follow in his father’s footsteps by joining the Marine Corps in the future.
“Me too,” Gabriel chimed in. “I want to be an officer.”
The exhibit has been on display in the gym since Monday. Thursday, viewing hours are from 12-8 p.m. An assembly is planned for Friday for the whole student body and there will be presentation that evening at the football game, Strahle said. For more information, contact the Galion High School office at 419-468-6500.
This is the first time the exhibit has been shown in Galion. Since 2011, the memorial has made about 175 stops across the country.
Strahle said visiting the hometowns of the fallen Lima Company Marines is “high on our list,” noting, “We still have got probably five or six guys that we haven’t been to their hometowns yet.”
The paintings were created by central Ohio artist Anita Miller and were unveiled in 2008.
As stated on the Lima Company Memorial website, “The memorial now travels to tell the story of love and sacrifice, as a reminder of the great price men and women are willing to pay for their country. This work is offered in gratitude for their gift.”
“A lot of people don’t know that when he was fresh out of high school, a Seattle Mariners scout wanted him to go try out for the Seattle Mariners, and he told him ‘No, sir. I joined the Marine Corps.’ So he turned down pitching possibly for a major league baseball team to be in the Marines,” Keith Ivy.
Hover over top right corner of first photo to see more images.
