COZAD, NE – The unveiling of a new monument in the Cozad Veteran’s Memorial Park will take place on May 4th at 10am for a Cozad native and an f-86 Pilot during the Korean War.
The family of the late Captain Robert Laier had a monument designed by Steve Wolff with the Dawson County Historical Society.
Rex German of Cozad spearheaded the idea and is a cousin of Robert Laier.
Robert’s son Richard will be attending the dedication, coming all the way from Miami, Florida.
Robert Laier was a Cozad native and enlisted in the U.S. Air Corps Reserves in July of 1944. After graduating from high school in Cozad he attended the University of Nebraska for one term, later transferring to South Dakota State College.
Robert Holmes Laier was declared Missing in Action and later declared deceased in February 1954. Captain Laier was awarded the Purple Heart, Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Prisoner of War Medal, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.
The dedication will start off with a welcome from Paul German, Master of Ceremonies and the Presentation of Colors from the Cozad Honor Guard.
Following will be the Cozad High School Band performing the “Star Spangled Banner”;“The Air Force Song” and “God Bless America”. Others to be heard from during the ceremony will be Church of Christ Pastor David Hayes, Mayor Marcus Kloepping, Scott Schmidt (U.S. Army). A Nebraska Salute from Senators Matt Williams and Jim Cudaback and ribbon cutting by the Cozad Ambassadors.
Richard Laier will speak just before the unveiling of the monument.
