Memorial Parks Advisory Committee Chairman Larry Buczinski Monday morning gave an update to the Barton County Commission on the effort to build a veterans memorial at Golden Belt Memorial Park north of Great Bend.
They have a long ways to go.
The committee held a  barbecue June 15 and raised $1,162, which brings their total to $3,314 of their $55,000 goal. They are now planning a patriotic music event for Aug. 24 at the Crest Theater in Great Bend.
It has been over a year now that the committee has been on this mission.
The plans call for the memorial to feature representations of each branch of the military, including Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marines, Navy and Merchant Marines (who received veterans status for the years 1942-46). A gray granite marker will contain emblems for each along with the inscription “A nation that forgets its defenders will itself be forgotten. This is but a small tribute to all the veterans whose names are forever etched on these tablets. We are eternally grateful for their service to this nation. All gave some, some gave all.”
The committee is taking contributions of veterans’ names to be carved into tablets that flank the center stone. There will also be flags representing the branches of service, and the memorial will be open to all veterans with Barton County ties, living or deceased.
 There is, apparently, an individual willing to give two donations of $5,000 each, contingent upon the committee raising $5,000 first.
We just go finished celebrating the Fourth of July. While its true this holiday is about more than those brave men and women who served in the armed forces. It is an observance of our nation’s freedom.
But, these veterans played an integral role in preserving those freedoms enjoyed by all Americans. This is a worthy project that deserves our support.
Dale Hogg