NL committee plans tribute to the living, memorial to the deceased

By STEPH TAHTINEN

Mt. Pleasant News

NEW LONDON ? Hopefully wthin the next year, New London will have a veterans? memorial.

?We?re hoping by maybe next spring, or maybe before if we?re lucky,? said Larry Meagher, chair of the veterans? memorial committee. ?We?ve got a couple of designs and are in the process of creating a brochure to show investors.?

The memorial, which will be located on the corner of Pine and Main streets, right across from the city park, is being designed as a tribute to living veterans and a memorial to deceased veterans.

Meagher said that the committee is deciding between two or three plans for the memorial, which is being modeled after the one in West Point. It will be made of black granite with the names etched in.

The committee is currently accepting applications for names to be included. Those included must have ties to New London, said Meagher. Applications can be picked up at Two Rivers Bank, Danville State Bank, the New London City Office and VFW Post 7641. There is also a link to the application under the veterans? memorial section of the city?s website, www.newlondoniowa.org.

There is also a large fundraising event planned for July, organized by Judy Wiegard. The event will include various activities such as a poker run, a popular vote car show and a raffle. Wiegard is also hoping to have an auction, though she doesn?t know if she will get enough donations.

?The big thing we?re doing is a street dance,? said Wiegard, who has three bands donating their time to the event. ?Hopefully we?ll raise a lot of money.?

Meagher said that the committee is anxious to get started on the memorial, though it may be awhile before it is complete. Before construction can start, the house that is currently on the property must be demolished.

?It hopefully will be down within the next month,? said Meagher.

The city is taking bids for demolition and removal until June 7. The city is also looking for anyone willing to do the demolition and removal for free. Anyone interested in volunteering demolition services can contact the city office. Once the house comes down, the basement must be filled in and the ground must set before the stones can be placed.

For more information on the memorial, stop by the VFW or City Office, or call Larry Meagher, 319-931-3113, Homer Hudnall, 319-367-2523, or Dave McGregor, 319-537-1094.