Pedestal Honoring Nanny Planned For Heritage Port | News, Sports, Jobs

WHEELING – Area veterans want to honor a local highly respected Marine who did much for the Ohio Valley.

The Moundsville Veterans Honor Guard has organized an effort to place a pedestal honoring the late John Nanny at the Gold Star Family memorial monument at Heritage Port in Wheeling.

The pedestal is set to be dedicated during a ceremony set for 2 p.m. on April 14, said Stephen Duncil of the honor guard during this week’s meeting of the Ohio County Commission.

He noted more than $10,000 was raised for the effort, and last year the commission donated $1,000 for the pedestal effort.

Duncil started the Go Fund Me page to raise money for the pedestal.

“You guys made a generous donation, and I’m here to personally thank you for that,” he told commissioners.

At the urging of the late Medal of Honor recipient Hershel “Woody” Williams, Nanny was instrumental in raising the funds needed to place the Gold Star Family monument at Heritage Port.

Both Williams and Nanny died in 2022.

David Schoenian of the Moundsville Honor Guard said he and Nanny met more than 20 years ago and worked together on many veterans’ projects.

“I’m an only child, and we became so close he was my only brother,” Schoenian said.

He thanked Duncil for spearheading the effort.

“It’s all about respect,” Schoenian said. “The word ‘respect’ in the military is not given. It is earned.

“For his whole life, what he has given … to this community … John gave and gave and gave until his last breath.”

Nanny served in the Marine Corps from 1961-65, and attained the rank of Corporal. He belonged to the Marine Corps League, and served as chairman of Hershel “Woody” Williams Scholarship Foundation.

He also was a member and past commander of Wheeling American Legion Post 1, and a member of VFW Post 4442.

Nanny worked as director of attendance and social services for Ohio County Schools, and founded Youth Services Inc. in Wheeling. Additionally, he was a founding member of National Youth Advocate Program and a Youth Advocate Program International Board of Trustees. He was a past president of St. John’s Children’s Home, and a member of the Big Brothers/Big Sisters organization of Wheeling.