It’s a project that’s been over two years in the making. Wykoff resident Harvey Schmidt knew he wanted to create a Veterans Memorial in Wykoff and so, in 2014, he formed the Wykoff Veterans Memorial Committee, which included Mike Holzer, who served as co-chair with Schmidt, Mark Anderson, LuAnn Hare, Lynn Kidd, Cheyanne Baker, John Baker, Ross Heusinkveld, Lyle Crowson, and Mitch Grabau. The late Wayne Winslow also served on the committee.
The committee partnered with the Spring Valley Area Community Foundation or SVACF, which allowed them to gain 501(c)3 nonprofit status.
Ground was broken for the memorial in fall 2015 on the corner of Highway 80 and Gold Street in downtown Wykoff. The land for the memorial was donated from the estate of Bud Kavanagh and the city of Wykoff, which inherited the parcel from Bill and Connie Bicknese.
Construction took around a year and many volunteers donated their time, labor, and equipment to get it done. In spring, 2016, the first pavers were laid. So far, 143 pavers have been put down along the walkway at the memorial. Each one has the name of someone who served in the military, along with their branch and years they served.
“They can be from anywhere, not just Wykoff,” LuAnn Hare noted about those the pavers honor. They can be purchased for any member of the military, living or deceased.
The memorial isn’t finished yet, though. The cannon that used to sit by the Wykoff City Hall for many years was moved to the park and is having its wooden wheels redone by the Amish. The Wykoff Veterans Memorial Committee plans to install a plaque next to the cannon detailing its history.
There is still landscaping that needs to be completed, along with more work on the granite markers. Donations are being accepted to help cover the costs.
The Veterans Memorial features flags from all seven branches of the service: the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Merchant Marines, Prisoner of War, plus the Minnesota state flag and the American flag. Granite markers with gold medallions showing each branch’s seal also line the walkway.
The memorial was dedicated at a service during the Wykoff Fall Fest on September 24 at 10 a.m. The public was invited to attend the solemn occasion at which two speakers gave speeches. The first was Norman Hecimovich, who served in the Army from 1952 through 1994. He was in the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and Desert Storm.
The second speaker was Colonel Galen Lichty, a 1962 Wykoff High School graduate who served for 22 years in the Army and was granted several awards for his service.
The dedication was closed with a gun salute to honor the veterans, along with the ringing of the Bells for Eternity, and Taps.
The Memorial Committee will continue to care for the memorial with the help of the city.
So far, 60 pavers have already been purchased for next year’s placement. The deadline for submitting paver forms is January 1, 2017 and those interested are asked to contact LuAnn Hare at (507) 352-2641.
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