Veterans Memorial planned at Worthington Park
Committee members working on creating a Veterans Memorial in Worthington Park in Humboldt include (l to r): Ariel Echevarria, Vicki Schwint, Scott Zipse, Dean Ewoldt, Daryle Zweifel, Ron Rasmussen and David Scholl. Paul Yost is also a committee member. Humboldt Independent photo.
A rough drawing of what the Humboldt Veterans Memorial will look like when it’s built at the southwest corner of Worthington Park along Highway 169 in Humboldt. Graphic illustration submitted.
Fundraising is now underway for a new Humboldt Veterans Memorial to be located in the southwest corner of Worthington Park in Humboldt.
The location is adjacent to heavily traveled Highway 169 South, across from Miller’s Landing.
Plans call for polished granite stones (4” by 8” pavers) with the name of the Veteran, branch of service and years served sandblasted into the stone. Veterans killed in action will be on a larger (8” by 8”) darker polished granite stone. Stones being used are made in the United States. They also hope to have special stones to recognize the VFW and American Legion posts.
There will be an arched entryway at the southwest corner, plus an eight foot wide sidewalk around the exterior with access ramps on the south and west sides. Plans call for the Humboldt Veterans Memorial to be 49’ by 49’ with a U.S flag, unknown soldier flag and the state of Iowa flag. Soldier statues may also be a part of the memorial.
Daryle Zwiefel, retired Humboldt Postmaster and an Army veteran during the Vietnam War, spearheaded the effort.
“While traveling I would stop at Veteran memorials. It struck me that we didn’t have one here in Humboldt,” Zwiefel said. He started talking to friends and found there was some interest.
“We’re losing names of our Veterans. They’re dying off and they’re gone,” Zwiefel said.
A committee was put together that includes Zwiefel, Veterans Affairs Director Dean Ewoldt, Scott Zipse, Ariel Echevarria, Vicki Schwint, Ron Rasmussen, David Scholl and Paul Yost. Attorney Greg Stoebe donated his time to help the group get started.
Parks Superintendent Clayton Vorland suggested Worthington Park as the location for the Humboldt Veterans Memorial.
“It’s a very visible location on Highway 169. It will be lit. We hope to have inserts so flags can be flown around the perimeter for Memorial Day and Veterans Day,” Zwiefel said.
“Donations are the key to getting this up and running. Right now we have no money,” Ewoldt said.
The goal is to raise $300,000 so that families of Veterans don’t have to buy the stones themselves.
Donations are tax deductible through the non-profit Friends of the Parks and can be sent to: Humboldt Veterans Memorial, PO Box 111, Humboldt, IA 50548. Donations can also be sent to PO Box 566, Humboldt, IA 50548. Checks can be made payable to Humboldt Veterans Memorial.
An official Facebook page has been set up at facebook.com/HumboldtVeteransassociation. Questions can be emailed to info@humboldtveteransmemorial.com
Read more about the effort in this week's Humboldt Independent, your trusted source for local news and sports.
