A Columbus memorial honoring veterans has an origin story that sounds a little more like an act of rebellion than a public works project.
In 1981, two Vietnam veterans, Carl Chandler and Harry Edwards, took matters into their own hands. Under the cover of night, they installed a hand-painted, four-by-eight-foot sheet of plywood on the Ohio Statehouse grounds as a tribute to Vietnam veterans.
State officials initially considered charging the men with trespassing and destruction of state property. But State Senator Richard Pfeiffer, himself a Vietnam veteran, stepped in and helped convince officials to let the makeshift monument remain temporarily. The gesture eventually inspired state legislation to create a permanent memorial.
Today, that memorial is known as the Ohio Veterans Plaza, located on the east side of the Statehouse grounds at 1 Capitol Square. It was dedicated in 1998 and honors Ohioans who have served in the military since World War II, along with those who will serve in the future.
A Memorial Built Around Veterans’ Own Words
The plaza features two curved Ohio limestone walls inscribed with actual letters written by Ohio service members during wartime. The letters were selected from more than 1,500 submissions collected from Ohio families, offering a personal look at the experiences of those who served and the people waiting for them back home.
The surrounding space includes a grassy lawn, fountains, benches, and flagpoles representing Ohio’s 88 counties, along with the American, Ohio, and POW/MIA flags.
It’s a place to pause, read a few of those letters, and remember that military service is made up of individual lives and families, not just dates and conflicts.
Where To Find Ohio Veterans Plaza
Ohio Veterans Plaza is located on the east side of the Ohio Statehouse grounds at 1 Capitol Square in downtown Columbus. The outdoor memorial is open to visitors, making it an easy stop during a walk through Capitol Square.
You can learn more about the memorial and read about its history through the Ohio Statehouse website.
