VFW Post 5669 to Expand Memorial
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VFW Post 5669 to Expand Memorial
By Shane Gilreath
[email protected]
The local Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) has announced plans to grow their Veteran Memorial Wall. The wall, which had its origins in 1992, when members of Post 5669, including Commander Bill Boyatt, visited Washington, D.C., on a Veterans Day trip, has long served as a quaint place of remembrance for Scott County families and visitors alike. Inspired by the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in the nation’s capital, the Oneida VFW Post designed the wall in that likeness. The memorial took several years to fund and finalize with hopes that it would symbolize thevalorof Scott County’s servicemen and -women who paid the ultimate call.
“Our community owes a profound debt of gratitude to the men and women who have served our nation,” Oneida Mayor Lori Phillips-Jones told SCN.
To bring the wall to life, VFW relied on support from the local community and plans for the expansion will look for more of the same. Dedicated to honoring veterans from all across Scott County, the wall now bears the names of more than two thousand local service members, with additional names needing to be added. The proposed expansion will accommodate those additional names and allow for the continued recognition of local veterans for years to come.
Fundraising efforts for the expansion include community events such as a 2.5K Patriot’s Run and a pancake breakfast. “This Patriot Run is more than just a race – it’s a powerful act of remembrance and support from the community,” Phillips-Jones said. “By supporting this effort to expand our memorial wall, we endure that every hero’s name and story are honored for generations to come.”
The 2.5k Patriot’s Run, which will raise awareness and funds for the project, will take place on November 15th at 9AM with a breakfast starting at 8AM. All proceeds will go to Post 5669.
“The Two is deeply proud to support this run and I hope the community will too,” Phillips-Jones imparted.
For locals, it’s more than just a simple monument, the VFW Memorial Wall has become a lasting testament to the dedication, sacrifice, and unity of Scott County’s veterans and the community that continues to honor them.
