This is the sort of story that we’re pleased to hear about.  We hope we’ll hear of more just like it.

Lincoln Elementary School students have for two years been raising funds to restore a 1928 monument placed by the American War Mothers to Geary County World War I veterans.  For the full story, let’s quote Dewey Terrill of www.jcpost.com on September 20th:

“On September 23, 2016 at 9 a.m. Lincoln Elementary will hold a small ceremony to dedicate the American War Mothers to Geary County World War I Veterans Monument in Heritage Park. The students and staff have been raising funds to restore the monument for 2 years and now all their hard work has finally paid off and they want the community to celebrate with them.

Over the past couple of years the students and staff held a Money for the Monument Coin War, School Dance, Color Run, and local businesses such as Brain Freeze donated all the proceeds from snow cone sales to the effort. U.S. Stone and Bayer Construction also made significant contributions. U.S. Stone created the monument at a significantly discounted price. Bayer and Baril Construction donated time and materials. The restored monument weights approximately 800 pounds.

Every Veteran’s Day and Memorial Day the students of Lincoln elementary plan to pay tribute to the American War Mothers by placing flowers on the monument.”

Here’s a big salute to the students for their efforts!

Here’s an image of the monument before restoration.  An urn that sat on top of this block has been recreated.

The Junction City Daily Union has an updated story and images from the re-dedication ceremony:  http://www.yourdu.net/news/lincoln-elementary-students-learn-about-heritage-while-contributing-to-it/article_b59607b6-8128-11e6-adb9-6fd470064149.html

 

Blair Tarr is the Museum Curator of the Kansas State Historical Society. He oversees the three-dimensional collections of the Society, but has special interests in the Civil War, Wichita-made Valentine diners, and Leavenworth's Abernathy Furniture. In the last few years he has also done a lot of cramming on The Great War. He is a past president of the Kansas Museums Association and the Civil War Round Tables of both Kansas City and Eastern Kansas. He is currently a board member of the Heritage League of Greater Kansas City.