KEEP ON BUILDING -- The Stewartville Sportsman's Club has donated $1,100 to support the construction of the expanding veterans memorial near the Stewartville American Legion Post 164. Ray Babcock, treasurer of the Sportsman's Club, standing at far right, presents the check to Richard Paulson, Stewartville American Legion commander. In front, from left, are Greg Olson, secretary of the Sportsman's Club, Brian Mullenbach of the Sportsman's Club and Dean Ramaker of the American Legion. In back, from left, are Mel Mullenbach, Chet Finley, Dennis Voll and Wes Alrick, all of the American Legion.
A WAY TO SAY THANKS -- The Stewartville American Legion Auxiliary has donated $3,500 to support the construction of the expanding veterans memorial near the Stewartville American Legion Post 164. Barb Viker, Legion Auxiliary president, standing at right, presents the check to Richard Paulson, commander of the Stewartville American Legion. Legion Auxiliary members include, front row, from left, Sheila Majerus, Lucine Reed and Audrey Farnsworth. Back row, from left, Peggy Paulson, Mick Johnson and Marilu Mullenbach.
SUPPORTING THE MEMORIAL -- The Stewartville Masonic Lodge has donated $5,000 to support the construction of the expanding veterans memorial near the Stewartville American Legion Post 164. Dale Clark of the Masonic Lodge, standing in back with dark shirt, presents the check to Wes Alrick, Stewartville American Legion adjutant. Other American Legion and Masonic Lodge members include, seated from left, Chet Finley, Dennis Voll, Milford Garness, Aulden Winch, George Menshik and Robert Lee. Standing in back, from left, are Mel Mullenbach, Richard Paulson of the Legion, George Thompson, Bill Hubbard, Warren Clark and Art Parlish. A portion of the current veterans memorial can be seen in the foreground at right.
Jeremiah Oeltjen of the Sons of the American Legion, left, prays during a ceremony at St. Bernard's Catholic Cemetery on Memorial Day morning. Thom Blade, Legion commander, stands at center in the foreground.
John Jordan of Griffin Construction of Chatfield, left, talks with Roger Winch of the Stewartville Veterans of Foreign Wars at the site of the planned VFW Veterans Memorial near the south entrance to the city on Wednesday afternoon, June 17. Jordan began grading the site last week. An anonymous donor has offered a matching, dollar-for-dollar donation of up to $50,000 through the end of 2020 to help pay for the new Memorial.
As of last week, representatives of the Stewartville VFW Prescher-Kumm Post 8980 and the Stewartville American Legion Post 164 had raised about $130,000 to help pay for the new $300,000 Veterans Memorial Park to be built near Stewartville's south entrance. Heather Holmes, an employee of Community Economic Development Associates (CEDA), and a former diesel mechanic for the Army National Guard helping the VFW raise funds for the park, standing at right, said the $130,000 includes $80,000 in contributions from individuals, businesses and organizations; $25,000 to $30,000 in in-kind support; and $22,000 to $23,000 thanks to a $50,000 individual donation that will match contributions through the end of 2020. Others helping with the fundraising include, from left, the three Rogers: Roger Winch of the Stewartville VFW, Roger Barsness, quartermaster (treasurer) of the VFW; and Roger Peterson, Legion commander and VFW member.
Jim Parry, REACH coordinator at Stewartville High School-Middle School, right, shares a grave marker inscribed with the name of World War I veteran Charles Lenton with Roger Peterson, commander of the Stewartville American Legion Post 164. Parry found the marker while using his metal detector at Bear Cave Park. In the inset photo above left, Charles
Jason Welter, city of Stewartville public works employee, has put in about 60 hours of work to restore Stewartville's Civil War-era 30-pounder Parrott Rifle, which will be moved to the south entrance to the city, where it will be put on display at the new Veterans Memorial Park.
Mayor Jimmie-John King, left, will be a featured speaker at the annual Memorial Day ceremony at Woodlawn Cemetery on Monday morning, May 31. Roger Peterson, outgoing commander of the Stewartville American Legion Post 164 and an active member of the Stewartville Prescher-Kumm Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 8980, will be the master of ceremonies for the event to honor U.S. veterans who have served their country, especially those who have paid the ultimate price for freedom. The gravestone is for Harold "Harry" Prescher, for whom the Stewartville VFW is named. On the opposite side, the gravestone is inscribed, "In Loving Memory of Our Son, Harold "Harry" Prescher, 1920-1942. World War II, U.S. Navy, USS Houston."
