The Purpose of the Veterans’ Memorial Civic and Convention Center of Lima/Allen County is to commemorate the services of all members and veterans of the armed forces of the United States. In Crouse Performance Hall Lobby, a memorial wall commemorates all military service personnel from Allen County who have died in service to our country.

The VMCCC is proud to be able to permanently recognize those service men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice.

On October 24, 2009, the VMCCC Board of Trustees held an induction ceremony recognizing five soldiers who were killed during the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars.

Army Staff Sgt. Jason E. Burkholder, 27, a graduate of Elida High School, died February 8, 2009, from wounds suffered from a bomb in Afghanistan. He was with the 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry Regiment of Marion, Illinois.

Army Spc. Jon Michael Schoolcraft, 26, a graduate of Wapakoneta High School and Apollo Career Center, died January 19, 2008, while on patrol from wounds suffered when his vehicle struck a roadside bomb. He was with the 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division in Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

Army Spc. Christian Neff, 19, a graduate of Shawnee High School and Apollo Career Center, died September 19, 2007, while on patrol from wounds suffered from an improvised explosive device. He was with the 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division in Fort Stewart, Georgia.

Army Capt. Dennis Pintor, 30, a graduate of Elida High School, was killed October 12, 2004, when an explosive device detonated near his patrol vehicle. Pintor was a member of the 20th Engineer Battalion from Fort Hood, Texas.

Army National Guardsman Staff Sgt. Aaron Reese, 31, a graduate of Elida High School, died December 10, 2003, after falling from a patrol boat into the Tigris River. He was the first Ohio Guardsman to die in Iraq.