Veterans’ Advocate Daily Honors Those Who Have Died
As the Veterans Day holiday observance approaches, there is a special advocate in our midst who honors the lives and sacrifices of the men and women who have served in our nation’s armed forces.
Director of the Tri-State Military Veterans Museum, Cheryl Skinner, tackles each day the same: by ringing a bell for Veterans who have died.
Skinner arrives at the museum, located at 101 E. Barrister St., Belmont, each morning to ring the honor bell in front of the building for veterans whose obituaries were published earlier that day. Mary Ann Droll, another museum volunteer, fills in on Fridays.
Skinner starts each morning posting obituaries on her Facebook page of veterans from across the country. She then visits each funeral home website to post an individual condolence for each veteran.
“Some days it’s 12. Some days it’s 26,” she said. “It’s just a matter of honor and respect. And I want the families to know that there is somebody out here that appreciates that their loved ones stepped up to fight for people they don’t even know, because it takes a special person to serve.”
Skinner added she believes only two defining forces are willing to die for humans, which are Jesus Christ and American soldiers.
She was recently promoted to the director’s position for the The Tri-state Military Veterans Museum. Previously, she served as the museum’s assistant director. The purpose of the museum is to honor and keep the memories of the nation’s military men and women alive and share their experiences with future generations. The museum walls are covered with portrait sized photos of veterans, living and dead, from the Tri-State area and throughout the United States.
The Tri-state Military Veterans Museum honors veterans from Belmont County, the Tri-State area and throughout the nation. (Barnesville Area News photo)
The Belmont American Legion Post 312 and the museum are housed in an 1800’s church building that once served Presbyterian and Methodist congregations. The legion purchased the church building for $500 in 1935.
The Tri-state Military Veterans Museum opened nine years ago. The relationship has been beneficial for both groups as they are both charitable, non-profit organizations supported by fundraisers, donations and grants.
The Tri-state Military Veterans Museum in Belmont keeps veterans’ memories alive with military memorabilia. (Barnesville Area News photo)
Skinner wanted to serve in the military before graduating from high school but couldn’t because of health issues. Although she tried every branch, she couldn’t.
“People said, ‘This is your way of serving through the Patriot Guard, the museum and everything else.”
“It just amazes me that these people stepped up to protect our country, our way of life, and they didn’t even know me. I want to honor them, and I want to tell their stories so they’re not forgotten.”
Skinner has decorated the whole building, filling it with pictures, uniforms, military memorabilia and other artifacts donated by veterans and their families.
Skinner maintains the museum’s books, handles donations and writes and manages grants.
“I’m just a very patriotic person who cares about our troops and our veterans,” she said. “That’s just who I am.”
The museum is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., each Thursday through Saturday, April through November. It will also be open this coming Tuesday for Veterans Day although it is closed most holidays.
Anyone wishing to request a tour at another time may reach out to Skinner at cherlyl.skinner@tristatemvm.org or call 740-484-0382.
Director of the Tri-State Military Veterans Museum Cheryl Skinner keeps veterans’ memories alive by running day-to-day operations at the museum that is located in Belmont. (Barnesville Area News photo)
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