STATEHOUSE NEWS

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(Columbus) To honor March as Women’s History Month, the Ohio Statehouse Museum Education Center staff will present a virtual tour focusing on the eight presidential First Ladies whose husbands called Ohio home. You can virtually join the tour through Facebook Live at 12 p.m. on Friday, March 26.

First Ladies of Ohio Virtual Tour

This Ohio Statehouse tour will focus on sharing the amazing life stories of the eight presidential First Ladies whose husbands come from Ohio. As in-person tours are currently still suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this tour is a great opportunity to honor Women’s History Month and get an educational experience from the comfort and safety of your home. Anyone interested in learning more about these fascinating and influential women can access this event through Facebook Live––you do not need a Facebook account to participate.

https://www.facebook.com/events/154732679804619/

Women’s History Month

Since 1987, the U.S. has dedicated March as Women’s History Month––a month in which we celebrate the numerous contributions women have made to this country. In addition to this tour that honors Ohio’s presidential First Ladies, the Ohio Statehouse offers many other opportunities to learn about women’s impact on US history. If you want to learn more, be sure to visit the Ladies’ Gallery, which honors the first female Ohio legislators who paved the way for women in government. Additionally, the Map Room features a special National Archives exhibit that marks the centennial of women’s suffrage.


About the Ohio Statehouse

The Ohio Statehouse is where history happens! The Ohio Statehouse is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; weekends from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed holidays.


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In recognizing the one-year anniversary of the first recorded COVID-19 case in Ohio, the flags of the United States and the State of Ohio shall be flown at half-staff upon all public buildings and grounds throughout the State of Ohio from sunrise to sunset on March 9, 2021.

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A statue of Great Ohioan John Glenn will be displayed at the Ohio Statehouse from March 3, 2021 until March 2022. The exhibit honors Glenn during the 60th anniversary of his historic orbit of the globe, and on what would have been his 100th birthday celebration.

“John Glenn’s achievements in space exploration and public service make his statue most deserving of being displayed at the Ohio Statehouse,” said Senator Jay Hottinger, chair of Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board (CSRAB). “He is a national hero, and I am grateful we will be able to honor his legacy, as well as inspire future generations.”

The statue of Glenn will be installed March 3 in the Ohio Statehouse Museum Gallery. It will be displayed on the ground floor near the Great Ohioans exhibit. Glenn was among the first to be recognized as a Great Ohioan when the award was established in 2003 by the Capitol Square Foundation and CSRAB.

Artist Alan Cottrill created the seven-foot bronze statue of astronaut John Glenn in 2018. He also made the statue of Great Ohioan Thomas Edison in Statuary Hall of the U.S. Capitol. Cottrill was born and lives in Zanesville, Ohio, and from childhood, he has admired Glenn from nearby New Concord, Ohio.

The display honoring Glenn was approved as a temporary exhibit by CSRAB with the support of state Representative Adam Holmes of Muskingum County.

About the Ohio Statehouse
The Ohio Statehouse is where history happens! The Ohio Statehouse is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; weekends from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed holidays.

Learn more about the Great Ohioans award: http://www.ohiostatehouse.org/museum/great-ohioans

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Photos available: http://www.ohiostatehouse.org/galleries/art-and-monuments

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The Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board (CSRAB) and the Capitol Square Foundation announce the recipients of the 2021 “Great Ohioan Award.” The 2021 honorees were presented by the Capitol Square Foundation and unanimously approved by the CSRAB recently at the Board’s first meeting of 2021. The individuals were selected from nominations submitted by citizens and organizations from across Ohio.

The 2021 Great Ohioan awardees are baseball player Larry Doby, author Toni Morrison, and politician Carl Stokes.

Larry Doby, an All-Star professional baseball player in the Negro leagues and Major League Baseball, was the first Black player in the American League. He signed with the Cleveland Indians only three months after Jackie Robinson was the first Black player in the National League.

Biography: https://ohiohistorycentral.org/w/Larry_Doby

Toni Morrison, born in Lorain, Ohio, wrote novels, non-fiction and children’s books, and was the recipient of many awards including the Pulitzer Prize and the Nobel Prize in Literature.

Biography: https://www.biography.com/writer/toni-morrison

Carl Stokes, from Cleveland, Ohio was one of the first Black elected mayors of a major U.S. city. He also served as a U.S. Ambassador and in the Ohio House of Representatives.

Biography: http://www.ohiostatehouse.org/museum/george-washington-williams-room/carl-b-stokes


“It is fitting to recognize these three amazing people as Great Ohioans. Trailblazers in their field, Larry Doby, Toni Morrison and Carl Stokes broke barriers. They changed society and the way we all look at society. Their impact went well beyond Ohio’s borders,” said Capitol Square Foundation Chairman Charles Moses.

The Great Ohioan Award commemorates Ohioans who have played a significant role in an event or series of events of lasting significance in world, American or Ohio history. To be selected for the Great Ohioan Award, the nominee must have resided in Ohio for a minimum of five years. In addition, at least 25 years must have passed since the event in which the nominee participated is being commemorated.

Since 2003, 54 Great Ohioans have been recognized with the award for the special roles they played in history.

“The people of Ohio are our state’s most important asset. These Great Ohioans made their mark not only in history, but in the hearts of all those who are fortunate to know their stories,” said Laura P. Battocletti, CSRAB executive director. “We are proud that the Ohio Statehouse Museum can share their accomplishments with the people of Ohio and inspire future generations to become a Great Ohioan.”

Great Ohioans Exhibit

While countless Ohioans have performed great actions for their community and beyond, only a select few have been named a “Great Ohioan.” The Ohio Statehouse Museum exhibit allows visitors to have a greater understanding of the recipients of the Great Ohioan award and discover how they affected local, national and world history. The exhibit uses videos, photos, facts and web based technology to explore the life and legacy of each Great Ohioan.

To view this press release and others, visit ohiostatehouse.org.


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More Information about Great Ohioans at http://www.ohiostatehouse.org/museum/great-ohioans

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In honor of the life and service of Ohio Department of Natural Resources Officer, Jason Lagore, flags shall be flown at half-staff upon all public buildings and grounds throughout Hamilton County, the Ohio Statehouse, the Vern Riffe Center, and the Rhodes State Office Tower until sunset on the day of his funeral. All other public buildings and grounds throughout the state may fly the flags at half-staff at their discretion for the same time period.

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In accordance with the order issued by the President of the United States of America and the Governor of Ohio and in remembrance of the more than 500,000 American lives lost to COVID-19, the flags shall be flown at half-staff upon all public buildings and grounds throughout the State of Ohio until sunset on February 26, 2021. (file photo)

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The Eyes of Freedom: Lima Company Memorial will be exhibited to the public in the Ohio Statehouse Rotunda from February 26 through March 11. This traveling tribute depicts the fallen of Columbus Ohio-based Lima Company 3/25, one of the most heavily engaged and hardest hit units of US combat operations in the middle east. These 23 life-size portraits are displayed in communities across the nation, rallying those who attend honoring the service and sacrifice of all those who answer our nation’s call. Over the years the Eyes of Freedom mission has grown to include the fight against Veteran suicide and post-traumatic stress issues.

In 2018, artist/creator Anita Miller completed her latest addition to the exhibit. A very powerful and sobering bronze sculpture entitled “Silent Battle” depicts a service member sitting in solitude after a combat mission, looking at the dog tags and mourning the loss of a fallen comrade. Although we will always proudly honor ALL military service and those who sacrifice for our freedoms, the addition of the bronze sculpture brought the mental health portion of our mission to center stage. The Eyes of Freedom strives to connect struggling Veterans with resources, partner organizations, and other struggling Veterans to unite in the battle against the hidden wounds of war.

Quotes about the Eyes of Freedom Memorial

“We are very proud to emerge from a devastated 2020 that saw most of our exhibitions postponed or cancelled due to the pandemic. There are so many that truly need this experience and we couldn’t be more excited to bring this powerful tribute back on the road again, said Mike Strahle, Eyes of Freedom Executive Director and former member of Lima Co. 3/25. “We are returning to public display with Covid protocols in place to provide a very safe experience for everyone. It is only fitting that we begin a fresh touring year at the Ohio Statehouse where Anita Miller’s portraits were unveiled for the very first time back in 2008”, added Strahle.

Artist and creator of the exhibit Anita Miller added, “We are extremely grateful to our supporters whose strength and contributions made it possible for the Eyes of Freedom to survive such a year.” She later added, “The main reason for creating The Eyes of Freedom was to help heal family members and loved ones after suffering such loss in 2005, and now it travels as part of a much larger mission.”

Background of the Memorial

The Eyes of Freedom: Lima Company Memorial was created as a result of an Ohio artist’s vision, in which she saw the finished memorial and felt she was being asked to create it. With the help of the families of the fallen and the returned Marines of L3/25, the work was created and unveiled in the Ohio State House Rotunda in 2008, as the vision foretold.

Although the paintings in this Memorial specifically depict the 23 fallen Marines from Lima 3/25, it has become much more; The Eyes of Freedom honors all who have answered the call to service. Behind each portrait we feel the honor and sacrifice of the thousands of men and women who have served our country, in every branch of the armed forces.

About the Eyes of Freedom Memorial Organization

Mike Strahle retired from Lima Co. 3/25 and upon seeing The Eyes of Freedom unveiled at the Statehouse in 2008 knew he had witnessed something truly special. Three years later he would contact Anita Miller, the artist and creator, requesting to host the memorial at a Veteran’s Support fundraiser he co-founded. It was this reunion that sparked the passing of the baton from its creator to the hands of a brother in arms. For Mike this mission is personal. He too was badly injured in the explosion that took six of his squad members; two more fell to enemy fire just days prior.

The Eyes of Freedom Memorial’s exclusive transportation provider is R+L Carriers, Inc. based in Wilmington, Ohio.

For images and more information about the Lima Company Memorial: The Eyes on Freedom exhibit, visit www.EyesOfFreedom.org.

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Ohio Statehouse Contact:
Mike Rupert: 614-745-6949
Communications Manager, Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board
mrupert@OhioStatehouse.org


The Eyes of Freedom: Lima Company Memorial Contact:
Mike Strahle, Executive Director: 419-551-0335
www.EyesofFreedom.org
BACKGROUND VIDEO: https://youtu.be/HfvDKUYjlkg

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Members of the Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board (CSRAB) will meet Thursday, February 25, 2021 at the Ohio Statehouse in downtown Columbus. The business meeting will be held in the Senate Finance Room (room #126) and will begin at 11 a.m. The meeting is open to the public. The meeting agenda is available upon request.
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