Friday, March 29, 2024

Groundbreaking for new Johnson County Honor Roll set for Oct. 23

After a long fund-raising campaign to replace the decaying Johnson County Honor Roll memorial dedicated in 1940s, the VFW Beggs/Gurley Post #5222 has announced the date for a groundbreaking ceremony for a new memorial.

memorial drawingThe new memorial will be located on the front lawn of the Vienna Carnegie Library, just west of the current memorial.

It will include the names that are on the current wall with the addition of known Johnson County residents who have served in all branches of the military to date.

The ceremony will be Friday, Oct. 23, at 12 noon at the library on the south side of the courthouse square.

More than $50,000 has been collected from individual and business donors to replace the aging structure.

VFW members have done extensive research into military records to update the names on the current honor roll to include their first names.

Post commander Clarence Caraker encourages the public, donors and veterans from all branches to attend and be recognized.

The VFW Auxiliary will provide grilled hamburgers, hotdogs and drinks.