A large crowd was on hand for the Fredonia Valley Veterans Memorial Dedication service Monday afternoon.
The service began with a Patriotic Prelude by the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) Band Brass Ensemble led by Sargeant First Class Tiffany Woods, which was followed by a flyover by an Air Evac helicopter to honor all veterans.
President Pam Faughn of the Fredonia Valley Heritage Society welcomed everyone to the service as well as a couple of Wounded Warriors and Woody Woodall.
click to download audioFaughn said she was excited to stand at the new Veterans Memorial on this Memorial Day for the dedication. She noted the Veterans Memorial came about due to a thought in a patriotic mind that ignited the idea to create the Fredonia Valley Veterans Memorial.
click to download audioShe said the original discussion included constructing the memorial at the American Legion’s Buddy Rogers Park in Fredonia but in the summer of 2020, they received news that Captain J. Todd and Karen Phelps were generously donating the two lots where the memorial is located in memory of Lieutenant Colonel Steve Prowell.
Faughn also thanked Brother Presley Lamm and the late Glenn Keel.
click to download audioWith more bricks displayed on the table, Faughn said these are part of Phase II at the Fredonia Valley Veterans Memorial that will begin this summer.
click to download audioFollowing her remarks, the monument was unveiled by “The Patriotic Mind” Brenda Fraliex who was assisted by the Fredonia Valley Veterans Memorial Committee made up of Rodney Park, Denny Brasher, and Presley Lamm from Fredonia American Legion Post 103, along with Todd Phelps, Fraliex, Linda Bennett and Faughn from the Fredonia Valley Heritage Society.
After the unveiling was the raising of the military flags by the Color Guard who were assisted by flag display sponsor families for each branch of the United States Armed Forces — Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard, along with a POW-MIA flag.
Immediately following the dedication ceremony, the Fredonia Lions Club along with local veterans and their families hosted a reception.
To hear the entire dedication ceremony, click on the audio link below:
