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Community News |
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| Heron Lake Veterans Memorial Update #3 |
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On April 11, 2011, members of the Westbrook Veterans Memorial Committee met with us to discuss how they went through the process of planning, fund raising, and constructing a memorial. | |
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On April 11, 2011, members of the Westbrook Veterans Memorial Committee met with us to discuss how they went through the process of planning, fund raising, and constructing a memorial.
For almost two hours a give and take session was held, with many great questions asked, and an equal number of informative responses given.
There are a lot of details to consider when an endeavor like this is begun, but here are three important ideas they shared with us.
First, take plenty of time to try and get the memorial done right. The Westbrook Veterans Memorial took 2 1/2 years from start to finish. Get lots of input and don't be afraid to share ideas and thoughts when planning was mentioned too.
Second, keep the basic theme and design of the memorial simple. By doing this, they said, you keep your chances of making mistakes to a minimum. That thought has been reiterated in our preliminary visits with different monument companies to get ideas and cost estimates.
Thirdly, work with community organizations and citizens so everyone feels they have been a part or at least had the chance to accomplish something that improves the area in which we live.
The members of the local area community who were there that evening were impressed with the willingness of the Westbrook Committee to share their ideas. It was nice to have people visit and give a blueprint for beginning the memorial here.
Our committee has had a local resident uncover another special find in our quest to locate books, documents, and news of service personnel who have been in the military.
A copy of the book “Victory; Jackson County, Minnesota in the World War” has been lent to us for a short period of time. The book was published in 1921 by Neulen & Lueneburg, Lakefield, Minnesota.
This book is the publisher's best attempt to list all who served in World War I from Jackson County by giving a short biography and, in many cases, a picture, too. Plus, they have listed what looks to be all the organizations that helped on the home front, such as the Red Cross branches and Liberty Loan Committees by city and township.
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