To the editor:

The Fort Dodge Veterans Council which is comprised of members from the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Marine Corps League, Legion Riders, Viet Nam Veterans of America and the Air Force Association would like to sincerely thank each and every individual for their generous donations to the Fort Dodge Veterans Council’s fundraiser to raise money to erect a memorial at the Webster County Veterans Memorial park on Badger Lake to “Honor the Men and Women in Arms from Webster County that sacrificed their lives in serving this great country and ensuring that each and every American can enjoy the fruits that Freedom bears.”

The monument, which consists of three granite slabs, lists the names of over 345 men and women from Webster County who sacrificed their lives in defense of this nation during the Civil War, Spanish American War, World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, and the Afghanistan and Iraq wars.

They each took an oath of enlistment/office to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic; and to bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and to obey the orders of the president of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over them.

Each of them took their oath seriously and made the supreme sacrifice for their country. It is only fitting that we honor each and every one of them by erecting a memorial at the Webster County Veterans Memorial park which is one of Iowa’s premier veterans parks.

The Veterans Council would like to invite each and every one of you to the dedication of the monument at the Memorial Day Ceremony at the Webster County Veterans Memorial Park starting at 10 a.m. on Monday, May 30.

Again thank you for supporting those who gave so much to ensure our freedoms according to the Constitution which continues to live.

Submitted on behalf of the Fort Dodge Veterans Council Monument Committee.

Col. Richard A. Lennon (Ret.)

Joyce Lennon

Committee members