Crowd gathers for Newell Vets Memorial dedication

Hot temperatures didn't stop community members from offering their support during the dedication of the Newell Veteran's Memorial this past Saturday along Main Street. "We had over 200 programs made up. They're gone, they're long gone. Thank you everybody, this is overwhelming," says Memorial Committee member Rod Rasmussen. The memorial didn't happen overnight - it involved numerous volunteers, hours and donations.

Just before the event the crowd enjoyed a three plane flyover flown by Gary, Beth and Aaron McCarten, Pocahontas. Rep. Gary Worthan was the special guest speaker. He read the story of the Sheep, Wolves and Sheepdog,' as told by a Vietnam Veteran." Rasmussen and wife Laurie began looking at some other monuments in other counties and said many of them were quite extensive and probably fairly expensive. They wondered how they'd be able to go about constructing a nice monument for a lower price. In April 2009 a town meeting was held to gather the community's response for a memorial. People immediately began signing up. "I'll never forget there was one lady there she says, 'You know I think I can afford $50,' she's now got $300 invested in this. She's got three names on it," says Rasmussen.

Read more of this story in the August 14 Pilot Tribune.