UPDATE ON MEMORIAL

2010

It seems like only yesterday when on May 28, 2007 at 10 A.M. the Litchfield Veterans Memorial Garden was officially dedicated.  A record crowd of over 2000 citizens was on hand for the dedication.  It’s only fitting that we now update this web site with the latest events that have taken place and some of the plans for the future. 

The project was completed with funds collected of over $120,000.  Now, thanks to those who contributed for the completion of the project, all bills have been fully paid.  Dorothy Mansholt, committee treasurer has set up a perpetual care fund for the memorial.  Ray Kellenberger, president of the committee reports that all money now collected is going into this perpetual care account.  Funds from this account will cover the costs for grounds maintenance including electrical lighting maintenance, flag replacement and landscaping.  The fund will also cover the cost of etching new names to the memorial each year.  Will Tackaberry and Marchelle Kassebaum will continue the search for veteran’s names and will also do the certification of all new names to be added.  It is expected that 20 to 30 names will be added each year.  

Each year since the dedication, Veterans Day and Memorial Day services have been held at the memorial site.  VFW post 3912 hosts the Veterans Day services and American Legion Post 436 hosts the Memorial Day services.  It is estimated that hundreds of citizens come to view the memorial each year.  Several come from out of state from as far away as New York and California. 

Committee members visualize that if funds are available, additional items may be added to the site.  However, the primary focus of the committee is to insure that adequate funding levels are maintained for perpetual care well into the future.    The committee is most grateful to those families who have designated the memorial fund to receive family member funeral tributes.  This has been a big help to the perpetual care account.  Donations from organizations, businesses, and individuals continue to come in and are most appreciated by the committee.  The Marine Corp birthday group has been most generous each year contributing their receipts and donations to the memorial fund.  The Litchfield High School band and choir groups along with the veterans coalition honor guards have been very supportive of our Veterans Day and Memorial Day services.   Additionally, the news media from Litchfield and Hillsboro have been a great help by promoting the Veterans Day and Memorial Day services as well as printing  reminders of the need for perpetual care funding. 

The committee also want to thank Mr. Bill Morgan, webmaster for the Memorial