Local bench installation dedicated to men and women who served in US military

Special to the Jefferson Herald

Veterans Day is an annual acknowledgement of brave citizens who have risked their lives for freedom. Recently, the city of Jefferson was blessed with yet another monument honoring those impressive residents.  

Veterans Day, previously known as Armistice Day, initially celebrated and acknowledged Nov. 11, 1918 as the official end of World War I.

The first Armistice Day was held on Nov. 11, 1919 when President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the country’s need for remembrance.
The U.S. Congress thusly shared the government’s approval, recognizing the end of the war by passing the following resolution in 1926: “Whereas the 11th of November, 1918 marked the cessation of the most destructive, sanguinary, and far reaching war in human annals and the resumption by the people of the United States of peaceful relations with other nations, which we hope may never again be severed.

An act in 1938 officially made Armistice Day (Nov. 11) a legal holiday, “dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as Armistice Day.”
Following the end of World War II in 1954, the act was amended and changed to “Veterans Day,” ending the use of armistice day.

That same year on Oct. 8, President Dwight D. Eisenhower released the first-ever Veterans Day proclamation, which said:

“In order to insure proper and widespread observance of this anniversary, all veterans, all veterans’ organizations, and the entire citizenry will wish to join hands in the common purpose. Toward this end, I am designating the Administrator of Veterans’ Affairs as Chairman of a Veterans Day National Committee, which shall include such other persons as the Chairman may select, and which will coordinate at the national level necessary planning for the observance. I am also requesting the heads of all departments and agencies of the Executive branch of the Government to assist the National Committee in every way possible.”

(History and quotations found on the Veteran’s Affairs website)
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In honor of the Nov. 11, 2022 edition of Veteran’s Day, The American Legion Post #11 of Jefferson dedicated a 6-foot concrete bench to the community last month. The bench is located across from the Army tank on the western edge of Jefferson with an inscribed plaque. The plaque is dedicated

“In honor of those who served,” by the Floyd W. Brown American Legion Post #11.

The bench site preparation was done by Don Labate. The limestone rock was provided by Tanner Scheuermann, Greene County Conservation Director.
The purpose of the bench is to provide seating in the immediate vicinity of the tank and the World War I monument. A tree was planted several years ago on the property in “honor of the boys of Jefferson who served their country during World War I. The tree was planted by the Jefferson chapter of the Service Star Legion in 1922.

Seen in the photo during the bench dedication are last week, standing from left to right are: Steve Nelsen, Barb Labate, Larry Monthei, Joe Murray, Don Yepsen, Jerry Vincent, Kenneth Arbuckle, Jim Andrew, Louis Swanson, Earl Cherryholmes, Rich Smith, Dennis Hendricks, Elvin Thompson, Mike Minnehan, Fred Long, Danny Marks, Haven Frantz, , Dwight Dillivan, Guy Richardson, and Zandra Maldonado. Seated from left to right: Paul Wilbur and Glenn Carstensen
The photo was taken by Don Labate.