March of 1945 at the Troy High School the student body raised funds to erect an Honor Roll of Troy High School students who had gone into the armed forces during WW II, beginning December 7, 1941, the day Pearl Harbor was attacked by Japanese forces. Seven classmates had given their lives for their country during the war years and were represented by gold stars. The student list originally had 160 names.

WW II ended in August 1945. The following October, the Village of Troy Council adopted a resolution to move the Honor Roll downtown and erect a permanent structure. Harry Campbell built this structure and it was placed here (at the time the City Park) facing Main Street. LaVerne Sigfrid Erickson hand lettered the names. Names of area men and women from the Troy Community were included expanding the roll to 220 names.

The monument’s windows have been updated twice over the years in order to honor all the men and women of Troy who served in all branches of the United States military. Included are Civil War veterans who served before the founding of the community but settled here in later years.

For the centennial celebration of the founding of Troy, a committee worked to update this Military Monument. After almost 50 years, the monument needed to reflect all the men and women from the area who had military service. The solution was to add a second window facing southwest on the back of the WW II presentation of names.

This second window was built by brothers Harold and John Milton. On May 30, 1992 it was unveiled by the Leif Erickson Post of the American Legion. Legion representatives Duane Brower and Dwight Zeller worked with Inga Marie Shodene Swan researching Veterans’ names. Judy Strong Milton and Patty Heath Parkins completed the signage of those names.

Inga Marie Swan also collects pictures of the veterans along with their branch of service and service dates. Her collection is filed in binders along with newspaper clippings and correspondence about veterans and is housed in the Troy Historical Society located at 421 S. Main Street.

On the World War II side, the tally has risen from the original 160 to 334 veterans, 10 Killed in Action (KIA) and two Prisoners of War (POW). The Troy Historical Society has albums containing the photographs of most of them which is an on-going research project by Inga Marie Swan and John Bannister.

Additions or corrections for the next update may be made by contacting the Troy Historical Society.

During the Philippine Insurrection, Charles Tyler Spencer, a civilian war correspondent, was killed. World War I had two KIA and one POW. Five service members died while in uniform but not in enemy action.

The 2017 Updating Project was completed by the Troy Historical Society, Inc. with generous assistance provided by the Troy Lions’ Club.

Graphic work is by The Latah Print Shop of Troy, ID Latahprintshop.com