Sen. Dan Hughes to speak at Veterans Memorial dedication

A dedication ceremony is scheduled for the Chase County Veterans Memorial Monday, May 31, at 2 p.m.
Guest speaker for the event will be Nebraska State Senator Dan Hughes of Venango, who represents Chase County and the 44th District.
Pastor David Kahle will be giving the invocation, and invited guest Nebraska Jr. Vice Commander Jeff Baker plans to be in attendance, as well.
Also attending the event will be Fred Hoppe of Columbus, the sculptor who created the bronze statue.
The public is invited to take part in this historic event.
It is suggested that attendees bring lawn chairs for the dedication.
This memorial has been a long time coming with many people involved from its conception to its near completion.
The memorial was established in honor of all those veterans who served in the military and who have a connection to Chase County.
VFW Post #4688 Commander Bud Statz said they are putting close to 260 veteran bricks on the wall that stands along the back of the memorial site.
Lyman Linger of Champion is applying the bricks ordered so far.
Linger’s business includes remodeling, repair and restoration specializing in masonry, tile and carpentry.
The six iron benches for the site, representing six branches of the military and POWs, were sponsored by Adams Bank, Pinnacle Bank, Waypoint Bank, the Hughes family, Gregg Smith and Sandy, Lexi and Preston Rufenacht.
The benches were being re-painted last week, said Statz, and should be back in place at the memorial site this week.
The electronic kiosk that displays veterans’ photos, bios, service awards and overseas tours is in place at the memorial site and has nearly 1,200 veterans’ names so far, said Jana Pribbeno, a veterans memorial committee member and in charge of entering kiosk names.
All military veterans with required ties to Chase County, including reserves and Army National Guard, are encouraged to purchase a brick for the memorial wall and submit information to be added to the kiosk.
“The kiosk is a free service for anyone who wants a veteran’s name and information entered for public viewing—and it will be ongoing,” she said.
The forms to fill out for the kiosk and for the veterans’ bricks are at The Imperial Republican newspaper office or at the VFW 4688 canteen.
Bricks can still be purchased for $200 and will be ongoing, as well, Statz said.
The veterans memorial committee wants to thank all those who have sponsored a brick in honor of a veteran, those who donated, the contractors, sub-contractors and city and county officials.
“Without you this would not be possible,” said Pribbeno.