The corner of Sixth and Main was crowded Friday afternoon as the dedication ceremony for the Doughboy statue was held.
Bill Goodner was the primary spokesperson for the event. He and his wife Verna, daughter Jana Tolbert and Virginia Bezique spent hours at the library researching obituaries for names to be included.
IMG 2262By the time they completed the project, some 85 more names joined the 86 on the original plaque.
The names were broken down into World Wars One and Two, Korean War, Vietnam, Desert Storm and Iraq as well as the war on terrorism.
Mayor Jennifer Clason thanked Goodner and the rest for their time.
“Today is Veterans Day so thank those veterans because we are here today because we have the freedoms we now have.”
Goodner said those names are more than just a statistic. “They represent a family member, a husband, father, brother or other relative of families who live or have lived in this area.”
He said they “Lost the opportunity to live out their lives and grow old with their loved ones.”
He went on to say Henryetta has the duty to place their names on the memorial.
“We were struck by the number of medals awarded for the bravery of those men.”
He illustrated that point by citing the sacrifice of Edward Devore.
While on patrol, he was killed in action during a firefight in the Mekong Delta and, because of his bravery in that battle, he received the Congressional Medal of Honor.
Members of his family who had just head of his actions were on hand to mark the occasion and receive recognition.
Goodner pointed out that, “time and the again these men’s actions were above and beyond the call of duty.”
The high school band was present to provide the military medley as well as Taps.

 

 

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