The following article from an unnamed newspaper came from a Desert Storm scrapbook that Martha Burger kept for her son Robert, who served:
Desert Storm Veterans Honored With Monuments
Veterans Day took on a special meaning in Lowell and Cedar Lake last week as the Tri-Creek/Cedar Lake Desert Storm Support Group gathered together veterans and their families to dedicate two matching monuments to those who served in the Persian Gulf during the past year's combat.
A tall concrete slab flanked by two concrete benches juts out of a square concrete pad at the Cedar Lake Complex and Evergreen Park in Lowell. The only difference is in the plaque affixed to each column -- the one in Cedar Lake lists the names of its residents who served in the U.S. Armed Forces in Operation Desert Storm, while the Lowell monument features the names of Tri-Creek area soldiers on its bronze plaque.
The Cedar Lake Monument was dedicated Nov. 9, with Chaplain James O'Brien of American Legion Post 261 offering the invocation. Speakers included Ken Eakins, Sr., president of the support group, Town Council President Robert Carnahan, whose son served in the Persian Gulf war, Walt Wohlgemuth of AMVETS Post 15, and Ann Curtis of VFW Auxilliary Unit 5599.
A day later in Lowell, a crowd of over 50 people and uniformed members of the Lowell High School U.S. Air Force Jr. ROTC Unit bowed their heads as Walt Wielgorecki, chaplain of Lowell VFW Post 6841, offered a prayer for all of those who served.
Eakins explained that the Honor Roll was erected "so that we will always remember the service these soldiers have performed for us and their country...with honor and pride."
Eakins noted that all of the labor and concrete for the joint project was donated, and thanked Bill Klahn and Brian Murray for the design, as well as Scott Wedding for the concrete. He added that the Lowell Lions Club have donated a flag pole that will also be installed at the Lowell site.
Garland Fish of American Legion Post 101 in Lowell stated that the men and women who served in the Persian Gulf will be welcomed into "our ranks" by the veterans' organizations, while Sgt. Michael Yedinak of the VFW and LHS ROTC program thanked those who served and stressed that they fought for the preservation "of the most important thing in our life -- freedom."
Lowell Clerk-Treasurer Marcia Carlson noted that November is a special month, marking the pilgrims' arrival at Plymouth Rock, the Gettysburg Address, Thanksgiving, elections and Veterans' Day.
The Tri-Creek/Cedar Lake Desert Storm Support Group will hold its final meeting tonight, Nov. 20, at 7 p.m. at VFW Post 6841 in Lowell.