Work is almost complete on veterans memorial near Myrtle
Published 9:33 am Monday, November 4, 2013
Brandon Diedrich, on a Diedrich Ag crane, gets ready to set the large memorial stone and life-sized soldier statues. — Submitted
Workers from Northern States Masonry work on concrete footings for the memorial near Myrtle. — Submitted
The public is invited to the memorial dedication ceremony at the cemetery at 10 a.m. Saturday. The Glenville-Emmons High School band will provide patriotic music. Representatives from the Anthony Wayne chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution will speak and two World War II veterans will unveil the stone engraved with veterans’ names. After the ceremony all are invited to the Brick Hall, a half-mile south, for a time of fellowship and a short history of the veterans’ memorial given by Ernest Benesh.
This project is the culmination of a dream of three veterans who entered service from Freeborn County: Emil Prantner, Milo Belshan and Ernest (Ernie) Benesh. These World War II combat cousins wished for a respectful way to honor the more than 45 vets already buried at the cemetery and those who will be buried there in the future. The concrete footing for the 9,000-pound granite monument, two life-sized soldier statues and seven flag holders is complete. The monument and bases have been set. Flagpoles and flags were ordered and received. Dirt work and sod laying is finished, and volunteers are watering it until freeze-up. Some of the concrete benches have been ordered and delivery is scheduled.
The Glenville Area Women of Today was awarded a $10,000 special projects grant by the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution in June 2013. Funding for this project was made possible through the sponsorship of Anthony Wayne Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, located in Mankato.
Linda Kral, treasurer of the Glenville group, said, “We appreciate the monetary donations and fundraising help from local businesses and members of the local community in raising the matching funds needed to apply for the special projects grant. Thanks to the DAR for helping to make this veterans memorial patriotic project a reality. It has been a pleasure to get to know and work with Emil and Ernie, and we are sorry that Milo didn’t live to see it completed.”
The DAR grants program, started in 2010, awards funding to support projects in local communities that promote the organization’s mission areas of historic preservation, education and patriotism.
For more information, please contact Bonnie Belshan, dedication coordinator, at 507-448-3332 or Kral at 507-473-0076.
