The Spring Grove Veterans Memorial Group, LLC, is pleased to announce that they have added three new names to the Spring Grove Veterans Memorial located in Viking Memorial Park. The veterans whose names have been added include:
Osmund S. Gilbertson served in the US Army and the Reserve from 1955 to 1963. Ossie graduated from Spring Grove High School in 1953, and he resides in Lincoln, Neb.
David L. Peterson served in the US Air Force from 1960 to 1986, where he made a career serving his country as a mechanic on B-52s. David resided in Spring Grove from 1986 to 2018. He was also the Commander of the Legion for a number of years. He passed away in 2018 in Fair Play, Mo.
Robert J. Gross served in the 1st Cav Division, Aviation Brigade as a combat medic in the US Army from 1995 to 1999 during the Persian Gulf Era. Rob resides in Spring Grove and was the Houston County Veterans Service Officer from 1999 to 2015, past President of the Minnesota Association of County Veterans Service Officers and is currently the Administrator of Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery-Preston, Minn.
Roland W. Melville served 20 years in the US Navy. His service spanned both the Korean and Vietnam wars, and he was twice decorated with the Bronze Star. After the Navy he lived and farmed near Blackhammer, Minn. Roland passed away on August 29, 2017.
The Spring Grove Area Veterans Memorial located in Viking Memorial Park honors the service of Spring Grove area veterans, both living and dead, who have honorably served our nation both in peace and in war. The memorial lists the names of 1072 Spring Grove area veterans that are carved into large black granite stones standing more than six feet tall. The memorial contains the names of 60 Gold Star Veterans who gave the last full measure of devotion to our nation. The memorial was dedicated on June 26, 2017.
Charlie Sylling, SGAVMG Board Chair, said, “We are proud that we are able to honor these additional veterans by adding their names to the Memorial. We urge all Spring Grove area residents and visitors, young and old, to visit the stunning memorial to gain a perspective of the immense sacrifices made by our men and women in the defense of our country.”
The policy and criteria for listing names on the memorial are:
•Verified honorable service in either the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard, and also the Merchant Marine during time of war, and
•Ties to the Spring Grove area which includes the town of Spring Grove, the Spring Grove and Blackhammer townships, and the western half of Wilmington township.
The memorial includes veterans who grew up in Spring Grove area, and also those who grew up elsewhere but later settled in Spring Grove.
Sylling says that while the SGAVMG seeks donations, they are absolutely voluntary and not a requirement for listing a name on the memorial. “It is the policy of the SGAVMG that no veteran will be denied the honor of having his or her name placed on the memorial for lack of a donation.”
Anyone wishing to have a name added to the memorial or seeking to make a donation to the memorial should contact the SGAVMG at charliesylling@gmail.com or visit our website at www.springgroveveteransmemorial.org.
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