RUSSIA — The village of Russia will welcome James E. Pleiman, Thomas V. Francis and Edward L. Borchers into the Légion d’honneur during the program’s inaugural ceremony on Sunday, March 12, at 1 p.m. The ceremony – which is open to the public – will be held inside Clair C. Naveau Gymnasium at Russia Local School.

The program is funded by the Russia Wellness Foundation and serves as a recognition platform to memorialize deserving individuals from the community, school, and church who have bestowed upon the Russia community and Russia Local School a positive image.

The event will include prelude music from Russia’s High School Band, slide shows of each inductee, along with introduction and acceptance speeches from each recipient’s family. A public reception will follow in the school commons.

Borchers, who served as president of Superior Aluminum Products for 40 years, was a member of the U.S. Army Reserves for six years. He was on the Russia Village Council for 15 years, serving as a clerk, councilman and mayor. He was a charter member and founding president of the Village Park Board. He was a member of the Community Foundation of Shelby County for 10 years and served as board chair.

His philanthropic contributions include the New Life Elizabeth Center, Russia Park playground and gazebo, United Way of Shelby County, Russia Local School, St. Remy Church and the Edward and Merilyn Borchers Scholarship Fund.

A 1957 graduate of Russia Local School, Borchers graduated from Miami Jacobs College in 1960.

He was a Russia Branch Library Charter Committee member; was on the board of directors for the Little Lambs Preschool; served on the Versailles Savings & Loan Board of Directors for 35 years.

He served the United Way of Shelby County on the Board of Directors for four years and the Allocations Committee for 10 years. He was on the Wilson Hospital Board of Directors for four years. He received the Sidney-Shelby County Chamber of Commerce’s Zenith Award in 2012.

He has been a member of the Russia Catholic War Veterans for more than 50 years. He is a member of St. Remy Catholic Church, where he has been an usher, lector and communion distributor.

Francis has been the president of Francis Manufacturing Co. for 47 years. He served in the United States Navy Reserve from 1942-1946. He was a volunteer with the Russia Fire Department for 30 years and purchased the first fire Truck for the village.

He has been a member of the Russia Civic Association for more than 40 years. He assisted with the institution of the village’s natural gas. He helped with the establishment of the post office and bank in the village.

He supports Veteran’s Advocacy and has been a member of the Catholic War Veterans for more than 40 years. He was a financial contributor to the Shelby County World War II Vets to DC program. He supports Wilson Memorial Hospital; is a benefactor for the Francis Women’s Center; was on the Bank One Board of Directors for 21 years; and established the Thomas and Corrine Francis Family Foundation.

He is a 1940 graduate of Russia High School and served in the United States Navy Reserve from 1942-46. He attended the Air City Institute and received a Certificate of Completion in Machine Trade Skill Training. He received the Navy Good Conduct Medal; American Campaign Medal; Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal; and World War II Victory Medal.

He has been a member of St. Remy Catholic Church K of C and the Russia Civic Association for more than 40 years. He helped with the establishment of a doctor’s office in the village. He has served as the chairman of the St. Remy Homecoming Festival and was on the Community Lanes Board of Directors for 25 years. He has been a member of the Sidney American Legion for more than 40; a Wilson Memorial Hospital, Board of Trustees for four years; and Wilson Memorial Hospital Foundation Board member for five years. He received the Sidney-Shelby County Chamber of Commerce’s Zenith Award.

Pleiman was a 1962 graduate of Russia High School. He was a member of the U.S. Air Force and was killed in action on March 14, 1966.

He was in the Air Force for four years and served as a medic. He received the Air Force Good Conduct Medal; Silver Star (First Oak Leaf Cluster); Silver Star (Second Citation); Air Medal; Maroon Beret; and Purple Heart.

Through the funding of the Russia Wellness Foundation, the village of Russia Légion d’honneur was established to serve as a recognition platform to memorialize deserving individuals, living or deceased, who through their character, contributions, and achievements, bestow upon the Russia community and Russia Local School a positive image, so that present-day students and community members can connect with the past and emulate these hallowed and virtuous persons in the future. The Légion d’honneur program aims to reinforce merit-based distinction while fostering an increased sense of pride among those who call Russia home.

A seven-member selection committee is comprised of a member from the Russia Local School board, Russia Village Council, Russia Wellness Foundation, St. Remy Pastoral Council, Russia Local School administration, and 2 at-large community members.