Courtesy photo — Patriot Guard members, local officials & citizens celebrate the dedication of the recently completed Elwood Veterans Memorial — 5-2-24
Elwood, Neb. — May 2 was a day to remember when the new Veterans Memorial in Elwood was dedicated. Located at 405 Ripley Street in Elwood, it is the community’s tribute to former, current and future veterans of the U.S. military. Thursday evening’s event was sponsored by the Elwood Chamber of Commerce and American Legion Post 290. Its new Commander, Aime Moores, a 28-year Air Force Veteran, says the new memorial is a fitting tribute…
Verbatim: “It’s a fenced in area, so it’s a small area with a couple of benches to sit on, three-stones that are used to honor veterans and then of course it has the American flag, the Nebraska flag and then a POW/MIA flag because we always want to honor those individuals also.”
Moores says the community’s pride, perseverance, and respect is embodied in the memorial:
Verbatim: “I think they did a beautiful job in representing and paying tribute to the veterans that it represents. So I think it turned out beautifully. They were able to contact other agencies for materials and building and design and it just…for this town of less than 700…it just really is a beautiful area to honor the men and women.”
Thursday evening’s ceremony included an invocation, the Pledge of Allegiance, the U.S. National Anthem sung by Elwood High School students Delaney Collins and Allie Lauby, a speech delivered by Moores on what the Veterans Memorial means to her, the presentation of two quilts-of-honor, the playing of “Taps” and a closing prayer. The National Honor Society of Elwood Public Schools helped with the set up and take down of seating.
Courtesy/Sharon Oelkers photo — (L-R) Marty Kleppinger (Quilts of Honor Seamstress); American Legion Post 290 Adjutant Vicki Von Loh; American Legion Post 290 Commander Amie Moores; Kathy Beck (Quilts of Honor Seamstress) — Quilts of Honor were awarded to Vicki Von Loh and Amie Moores — 5-2-24
Moores says Elwood’s Veterans Memorial is a way to honor all those who served in our military because everyone who served wants to be able to help and protect our way of life and this is a way of honoring that.
Courtesy/Photo by Sharon Oelkers — Elwood’s new Veterans Memorial — 5-2-24
