Memorial to add room for an expanded list of local veterans

BY JULIE BENAMATI
The Tribune-Democrat

VINCO October 30, 2006 11:43 pm

— Two more granite slabs have been added to a veterans monument here after overwhelming response to a request for names filled up the year-old memorial.
The monument was designed to hold 1,006 names of veterans who, at some time in their lives, resided in the township, and local folks thought it would take years to fill up the $35,000 octagonal piece.
Supervisors voted recently to buy two more marble slabs to add to the piece at Jackson Township Veterans Memorial Park, adjacent to the township’s senior center.
Last year, the township dedicated the 7-ton monument and honored more than 800 vets, whose names were submitted prior to the Veterans Day unveiling.
“We thought that big monument would take a long time – maybe not even in my lifetime – to fill up with names,” said Frank Singel. He has been coordinating the monument’s construction and veterans’ events along with the township recreation commission.
“For a small community to have that many service men and women live at one time in the township, that’s a big figure,” Singel said.
Four more names have been added to each new slab, he said, adding that names continue to come in. Singel and his committee verify each submission’s veteran status prior to engraving.
“We engrave the names twice a year,” Singel said. “Once before Memorial Day and once before Veterans Day.”
The new slabs will hold an additional 410 names each – hopefully enough space to take the township well into the future.
“This gives us room for quite a few more names,” said Supervisor Bruce Baker.
“Word is spreading, and more and more want their family’s veterans on there.”
He said he and others are surprised at how many veterans have township roots.
“There are still a lot of people who have served, and have been through Jackson Township,” Baker said.
Singel said a veteran is listed from every war from the Civil War to the current war in Iraq.
A Veterans Day ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. Nov. 11 at the senior center.

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