 To the editor:During its
monthly membership meeting this week, Lincoln American Legion Post
263 voted without opposition to support and endorse the referendum
on ballots next week to impose a half-cent sales tax with all
proceeds earmarked for needed repairs and improvements to the Logan
County Courthouse.
Of course, the iconic structure on the downtown
Lincoln square is historically significant and it holds a lofty
position in Logan County’s inventory of genuine landmarks. There is
no doubt repairs need to be made to the roof and picturesque dome of
this beautiful building to stop water leaks that have threatened the
structural integrity of the building.
But that work is only a start of what’s needed to
bring the courthouse up to today’s standards in heating, cooling,
ventilation and, perhaps more importantly than those factors, the
safety of the public and county employees who call the building
their workplace.
A consultant estimates it will take about $8
million to accomplish everything that needs to be done.
Local veterans support the sales tax increase
because they understand the importance of this building as the
center of Logan County government. But the courthouse takes on a
much bigger role for county residents who have served their country
in the branches of the military. The first floor contains a special
and quite extensive display saluting more than 6,000 county
residents who have served in their country’s armed forces. The
names of all those veterans, dating back to folks who had served in
Gen. George Washington’s revolutionary forces, are on plaques in
this special display.
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That public and visible salute stays current.
Last week, during a ceremony in the courthouse rotunda, a new plaque
was added to the display to include the names of Logan County
veterans who have fought America’s War on Terror over the past 30
years.
Longtime Legion member C. Wayne Schrader also
added another reason for local veterans to revere the courthouse as
somewhat of a shrine. Schrader told his fellow legionnaires that
the birthplace of Legion Post 263 was the basement of the
courthouse. Charter members of the post gathered there for the
first American Legion meetings in Lincoln in 1919, Schrader told the
meeting.
Those are reasons why the Logan County Courthouse
holds a special place in the hearts and minds of veterans. Our post
encourages voters to support the sales tax referendum when you cast
your primary ballots next week. It’s worth noting that the tax will
expire in 20 years.
For those who opt not to request a Democrat or
Republican ballot, you can still vote to support the added sales tax
by asking only for a non-partisan ballot, which includes the tax
question.
Robert Sullivan
Commander of Lincoln American Legion Post 263
[Posted
March 13,
2020]
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