By Calle Caldwell

A new statue has been installed in Bellbrook, not just as a tribute to one man, but as a symbol of sacrifice and honor for all who served. On August 16, the community came together to unveil a memorial dedicated to Jim “Pee Wee” Martin, one of the last remaining “Toccoa Originals” from the famed 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, and to all fallen veterans.

Jim Martin, who passed away in 2022 at the age of 101, was a World War II paratrooper who jumped into Normandy on D-Day, fought in Operation Market Garden, and endured the winter of the Battle of the Bulge. His service left a lasting impact on his family and community, who now remember him not just for what he did, but for how he lived.

“It’s a surreal feeling to know that’s my great-grandpa,” said Jim’s grandson, Bellbrook High School sophomore Hayden Martin-Puterbaugh. “Now that he’s being represented in the statue, I’m proud of him. For my mom, it’s that times ten.”

The memorial, which features a statue modeled after Jim, is the result of over a year of planning, fundraising, and collaboration. Jodi Martin, Jim’s granddaughter and Martin-Puterbaugh’s mother, played a key role in making the vision a reality.

“I was contacted by a producer from San Diego, California, who said, ‘Hey, let’s put your grandpa in bronze,’” Jodi said. “I immediately went to the Sugarcreek Township administration building because I knew my grandpa would want to be in Sugarcreek Township.”

Working with local officials like Nadine Daugherty and Jeff Stewart of the Bellbrook-Sugarcreek Park District, the Martin family helped secure land, raise over $22,000, and ultimately transfer ownership of the statue to the township.

“The final product is my favorite part,” Jodi said. “Driving by and knowing that’s a replica of my grandpa.”

The statue itself is just one element of the memorial. Bricks with the names of local veterans line the site, along with plaques that tell the stories of those who served. The memorial is designed not only for remembrance, but for education.

“I hope people walk away with a sense of history that has impacted the world we live in currently,” Jodi said. “I hope they learn a little piece of World War II and what the men and women went through during that time as well as the families back at home here in America.”

For Martin-Puterbaugh, the lessons from his great-grandfather were about character.

“He taught me through his actions and what he did in his life; to be hard-working, to stand up for myself,” Martin-Puterbaugh said. “He never saw himself as a hero, just as a citizen doing what’s right. He didn’t have an ego about it.”

Despite the honor of the statue, the family emphasized that Jim Martin would have wanted the focus to remain on all veterans.

“He didn’t like the idea of a solo memorial,” Martin-Puterbaugh said. “He wanted it to represent all veterans.”

Today, the Martin family continues to honor his legacy in their everyday lives—from maintaining his home, to participating in an annual parachuting event hosted by the Round Canopy Parachuting Team in his name.

“As a mother, I think it’s very important that my boys understand the history and the legacy of what the men and women from World War II accomplished,” Jodi said. “They’ve had experiences firsthand to go to Normandy, where the famous D-Day June 6 jump occurred.”