The two men responsible for installing the recent upgrades to the Ellendale Veterans Memorial are pictured above. From left to right: Jerry Ibberson and Larry Otto. Photo by Kathy Paulsen
By KATHY PAULSEN
Staff wrtier
In 2010 the Ellendale Area American Legion group started a Veterans’ Memorial on the west side of the City Office building. Included in the memorial are three flagpoles and the American flag, the Minnesota state flag, and the POW flag.
Two granite benches are located in this area. A plaque on the building that houses the city offices and Historical Society says: Ellendale Area Veterans Memorial, All gave some—Some gave all. It is dedicated to the memory of all who proudly served and protected our country.
Roger and Caren Swearingen filled the two cement flower urns donated by Carol Anderson when the memorial was created with red and white flowers this year. There is a metal park bench, and 8”x10” bricks have been used to develop the area below the memorial.
One area of the display is designated for those servicemen and women who have been killed in action. The American Legion places the bricks, free of charge, and there are currently 12 on display.
Another area is devoted to veterans, with personalized bricks containing the veteran’s name and years of service for a cost of $75.
On Friday, June 22, Larry Otto and Jerry Ibberson updated and cleaned the memorial, something they try to do every year. They added bricks to honor Clarence “Spike” Thompson, Warren Wayne, Roger Wayne, Curt Boswell and Noah Sletten. There are now 203 bricks honoring our veterans at the memorial.