By Randy McNutt
The Cincinnati Enquirer

History teacher Glenn Grundei and his grandson, Brelan Grundei, 10, at one of the Hall of Heroes displays at Beechwoods Elementary. (Craig Ruttle photo)

When you walk through the halls of Beechwoods Elementary School, you feel something.

You can't help it.

Maybe it comes from seeing the pictures of so many men and women in uniform, or from the sheer power of their words, typed neatly and placed next to their faces. Or maybe it comes from seeing soldiers' lives lovingly displayed, passed every day by grandchildren and great-grandchildren whom these unlikely warriors fought to protect.

Welcome to the Hall of Heroes.

Most of its members would surely prefer some other designation. They'd say they were just ordinary citizens thrust into extraordinary circumstances - protecting their country.

But Glenn Grundei knows better. For the last three years, the fifth-grade history teacher has collected heroes and the tattered pieces of their lives. He displays their personal items on the walls of this brick school in northern Hamilton County, just to say, "Thank you."

"A lot of our kids have no concept of the importance of the Hall of Heroes," Grundei said. "But others react to it. They bring in pictures of family members who have served in the military. If I can reach just 10 percent of the kids, that's wonderful.

"They're not going to get this (appreciation) from our textbooks. The book we use doesn't even mention the names of the Army, Navy and Marines. Instead, it concentrates on social issues, such as the internment of Japanese-Americans and our dropping of the atomic bombs in World War II."

That's the other reason why Grundei founded the Hall of Heroes. He wanted to tell the story of America at war - through the people who fought.

At first, he asked Principal Ernie Spalding for permission to hang a few photographs of soldiers in the school's hallway. Spalding encouraged Grundei to do more.

"A constant flow of people, veterans and non-veterans, have come here to view the display," Spalding said. "As time passes, it continues to generate more interest. The local American Legion post likes it so much that they want to take it over if the school should ever close."

Walking through the hall, it's difficult to imagine that the attack on Pearl Harbor happened 62 years ago, that Americans are fighting in Iraq and that most veterans of World War I are dead.

A framed 1918 edition of the Enquirer proclaims in large type: "WORLD WAR OVER; Armistice Proclaimed."

"I write a lot of letters and e-mails, trying to get pictures and items from all the wars," Grundei said. "Of our more than 200 photos, I'd say 30-40 percent are of local people." He paused to look at the photos and added, "This man, Eugene Dres of Springdale, was the only soldier to escape from a Sherman tank three different times."

Dale Haller of Wyoming donated his late brother Gregory's Purple Heart, a letter from the War Department and even the telegram that the family received upon Gregory's death.

"I asked Dale why he decided to donate these things," Grundei said, "and he told me, 'I want my brother's memory to live.' He explained that Gregory had been hit by shrapnel. Earlier, he had received written orders to go home, but then Gen. George Patton walked in and (pointing to the men) said, 'You go home, you stay, you stay too.' Gregory died the first day of the Anzio attack."

Grundei walked past the black-and-white photographs, ration books, magazine covers, medals, telegrams, uniforms, newspapers and letters. He spoke softly: "Not long ago, I received a World War II uniform, complete with medals, from a man in Maryland. He had heard about our permanent war displays, which are professionally done. We spent $18,000 on the framing and displaying. Everything has been donated."

Through Grundei's persistence and word of mouth, the hall is gaining a reputation.

"We're receiving contributions from all over the country," he said. "Retired officers write to us. So many of these people write stories about what happened to them. The stories must be saved, so they don't die. One man wrote that his unit started with 265 men on D-Day, and one day later it was down to nine."

The exhibit's strength is the many signed photographs of regular soldiers, with personal letters about their battle experiences. Famous soldiers aren't ignored, either. The exhibit features signed photos of Col. Paul Tibbetts, pilot of the atomic-bomb mission to Hiroshima, and Gens. Norman Schwarzkopf and Colin Powell.

Another display honors the women who served. Yet another wall looks like an art gallery with nine large color prints of aircraft from World War II to Vietnam. All were donated. A print of a Flying Tiger group is signed by 30 men who flew the planes in World War II.

Grundei's favorite letter was written by Eugene P. Traiteler of Company A, 415th Regiment, 104th Infantry Division, "The Timberwolves." He fought in Belgium and Holland during the fierce winter of 1945.

"I don't even know where he lives," Grundei said.

Under the title "Why Did We Fight?" Traiteler writes:

"We youngsters were raised to love our country and were not embarrassed if our father or mother cried a little when the flag went by ... There are many who are eager to tell you of the things that are wrong with America. We are not perfect, but look around and you will discover we are the best there is."

Hear the heroes speak

Pvt. George Haller, hall member From 1-4 p.m. Saturday, three area Pearl Harbor survivors will speak to the public at Beechwoods Elementary School.

They are: Dick Keren, a Butler County resident and a Silver Star recipient who also fought at Iwo Jima; and Clermont County residents George Adams and Joe Whitt.

"Joe is the oldest Pearl Harbor survivor in Ohio," said event organizer Glenn Grundei, a history teacher at Beechwoods. "We invited them here to show our appreciation for their sacrifices."

The public is also invited to tour Beechwoods Elementary's Hall of Heroes exhibit.

Admission is free. The school is at 73 Junefield Ave., off Sharon Road.