Give local folks a good cause and they respond in droves.
That occurred Saturday when LaHarpe VFW Auxiliary and Iola American Legion members set up shop with a bake sale outside Walmart. The goal was to raise $1,000 to purchase metal markers for veterans graves in the military enclave at Highland Cemetery.
An advantage, for both, was that Le Roy Masons, with flags flying, were situated next door, selling raffle tickets to support a 2018 Honor Flight to Washington, D.C.
“We both benefited by being next to each other,” said Maggie Barnett, one of the bake sale’s ramrods.
By the time the last sweet treat was carted off, sale of baked goods had fetched $503.
That wouldn’t have been enough to place markers at all graves.
Not to worry, there’s more to the story, much more.
By the time Barnett opened Monday morning’s mail, another $2,230 had been donated.
“Lots of people drove up and gave donations,” she said, including $1,000 from Earl Croley, in honor of his deceased wife, Cinda, and $500 from Ron Fry. Several other gifts were remarkable, but donors declined to be mentioned.
The outpouring of support opens the door for markers that will be more to the point for those they honor.
Initially, Barnett thought aluminum plaques atop stakes, with a place to insert a small flag and noted the grave held a veteran would be the plan for those that had none. Some — made of brass or bronze — were stolen several years ago when scrap metal prices spiked; other graves never had the special markers.
With better than 2½ times as much money in hand than their goal, Barnett and her committee members may shift the project to include branch of service and when the person served.
Also graves outside the military area will be fitted with metal markers, and some money will be held in reserve for veterans who later will join their deceased comrades.
DONORS to virtually all good causes do so to recognize those to be honored or assist with a project in any number of ways or reasons.
However, it behooves the Register — all of us, as a matter of fact — to publicly thank citizens who care enough to reach into their purses, billfolds or checkbooks and help out with a worthy cause.
None is more worthy than recognizing those who have served the country, some of whom lost their lives in the process.
What we do in recognition pales in comparison to what those honored sacrificed.
— Bob Johnson
