Plans initiated for Logan County to recognize post-Vietnam era veterans

[April 12, 2017]  LINCOLN - On Tuesday, April 11, 2017, the Logan County Board Finance Committee held their monthly meeting. One focus of discussion was funding for a plaque with names of post-Vietnam era veterans.

Joe Schaler, who helped start the county's Veterans Assistance Commission and is part of the VFW, shared the plans for a new plaque in the Logan County Courthouse and gave the committee a packet of information from the VFW.

Schaler said the wall on the right side the courthouse entrance that lists veterans of World War II and the Korean War mixes the names of the veterans from these wars together and the wall on the left side list veterans from the Vietnam War. The plans are to add a plaque on the left side for veterans from later conflicts.

Schaler said, "We are going to be searching for five [military] campaign ribbons that will go from Vietnam forward." He said the list would include people who fought in Kosovo, Grenada, Panama, Afghanistan, or Iraq, "so we're going to have to do some searching on that." He said, "The new list for those from 9/11 forward . . . will have 76 names there."

Schaler said for Grenada, "we did award some purple hearts because we did have several marines were killed or wounded."

Schaler said they need to have a frame built for the new list of names. He said they will need to find a craftsman to make a new frame and someone to manufacture name tags to put in there. If names are missed, they could be inserted later.

Schaler said those who have been in the military need to file a DD214 that certifies their release or discharge from active duty. That helps them have a record of names. He said the VFW's list of three steps of admission can be used as proof of being in the military.

Schaler said he will put out a general notice for people who were part of the recent conflicts to contact the Veteran's Assistance Commission office. He said it would also be helpful for family members of veterans to contact him with names. Schaler said having a record of recent addresses will help them with the lists as many addresses may be outdated.

Schaler thought there may be more than 100 names once they have the whole list. He said these are the "younger veterans that should be recognized."

Board Chairman Chuck Ruben said coming up with the list of names "is a big job and I appreciate Joe for doing that."

Ruben said it might be helpful to find out who did the frames for the other lists.

Ruben said there is money in the historic sites fund left over from when the board was doing tourism, so the board could help pay for it.

Finance Committee Chairman David Hepler said he thinks there is about $5,000 or $6,000 in that fund.

Ruben made a motion to expend the money to fund the plaques and the motion passed unanimously.

Finance committee members present were Committee Chairman David Hepler, Vice Chairman Janet Dahmm, Dave Blankenship, Gene Rohlfs and Board Chairman Chuck Ruben.

The next finance committee meeting will be held in the Logan County Safety Complex on Tuesday, May 9, 2017 at 5:30 p.m.

[Angela Reiners]