Tuskegee mural donor wall completed completed

Group to resume meetings to plan for May 7 event

STEUBENVILLE -- On Sept. 29, 2019, the Tuskegee Red Tail Squadron Mural was completed, and a ceremony was held to honor two of Steubenville's finest -- Jerome Edwards and his brother, John Edwards.

The mural honors the memory of the Steubenville High School graduates who earned numerous medals while flying with the famed Red Tail Squadron during World War II.

"As part of this mural, an opportunity to honor loved ones and aid in the funding of the mural was offered in the form of a memorial wall at the base of the mural," noted Janet Sharpe, assistant secretary of the Tuskegee Airmen Mural Committee.

"Unfortunately, because of COVID and other issues, those who donated were not able to see their loved ones' names on the mural until recently," Sharpe noted, "The Tuskegee Red Tail Committee is delighted to announce that Rusty Baker, the artist who produced the mural, has now been able to complete the donor wall for all to see."

The mural is located on the wall of the former Elks Lodge on Washington Street that faces Fourth Street.

A special event will be held on May 7, which has been designated Tuskegee Airman Day by the state of Ohio. The committee will resume meetings in January to begin plans for that and invite anyone interested in helping to contact Sharpe at (740) 632-1144.

Other committee members are Patricia Fletcher, chair; the Rev. Vaughn Foster; James Baker, chair of fundraising; Mayor Jerry Barilla; Judy Bratten; Mary Snyder; Paul Zuros; Mike Paprocki; Patricia Esterling, secretary; Ambrose Bolling' the Rev. Calvin McLoyd; and Baker.