Ogle County Fallen Soldiers Memorial dedicated on Veterans Day

By Doug Schroder

Editor

OGLE COUNTY – It was a beautiful, sunny, yet slightly chilly day, on Wednesday, Nov. 11 when the Ogle County Fallen Solders Memorial was dedicated on this 2015 Veterans Day. Oregon VFW Post 8739 Commander Lee Ossmann welcomed everybody as the dedication started at 10 a.m. Rich Sheldon, American Legion Post 97 Chaplain, then gave the Innovation, which was followed by the Honor Guard raising the flag. The Oregon High School Choir then sang the National Anthem and then the Boy Scouts led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance.

After Commander John Tuttle, of Oregon American Legion Post 97, read the names of the deceased Ogle County Veterans from Nov. 2014 to Nov. 2015, the statue and granite walls of the new memorial were unveiled on the grounds of the Ogle County Courthouse.

Retired Army Brigadier Generals Bruce Vanderkolk and Steve Huber (of Byron) then spoke about the service and what this day meant to them. After that Ogle County Board Chairman Kim Goulker spoke, followed by Oregon Mayor Ken Williams. In each of the speeches the speakers referenced Veterans Day and what this monument meant to the people of the area and nation.

Commander Osmann then made final comments and a rifle salute ensued.

The dedication was closed when Oregon High School students Dan Welle and Kelsey Handschuh played an echoing Taps on their horns.

After the cords and other PA equipment from the dedication were removed, the public was invited to then come and view the monuments. People stayed around at least another hour after the dedication ended.

Everyone was invited to the potluck at Oregon American Legion Post 97 afterwards, which is a longstanding tradition after Veterans Day ceremonies in Oregon.