For those who served

MT PLEASANT — Sand floated near the Iowa Veteran’s Memorial at Henry County Courthouse Monday.

Private business owner Tyler Abgit adds names, via sand blasting, twice a year and has for the last 10 years.

However, names have been added long before Abgit and, likely, many more will be added after he passes the work along to the next engraver.

Names have been etched into the monument since it’s initial dedication Nov. 11, 1994, and many empty tablets remain to be filled.

Tyler Abgit finishes adding 22 names to the Henry County Iowa Veteran’s Memorial Monday. (AnnaMarie Ward/The Union)

A dark tablet stands proudly in centered in monument space with a dedication:

“Dedicated to Henry County Veterans

In Honor of those who served

In tribute to those who perished

In gratitude to those now serving“

Abgit added 22 names prior to this year’s Memorial Day services.

This brings the total to 1,477 on the stones of this monument.

The new servicemen and women honored are:

N. Dwain Sullivan, Roger L. Canby, Robert A. Canby, Larry L. Schenk, Harold F. Vaughn, Quentin H. Fackler, R. David Stevens, Scott Lynn McKenzie, H. Clark Hays, Melvin B. Bergstrom, Jack Duane Gillis, Mitchell Lee Lowe, Roger Rex Hill, Duane Lloyd Maxwell, James H. Honts, Richard E. Wick, Robert D. Perrenoud, Thomas W. Brown, Gerald H. Dingman, Frank Edward Wilson, Michael L Kaufman, and David A. Custer.

For those interested in adding the name of a loved one, the veteran must have been born in Henry County, lived in Henry County when they entered the service, or lived in Henry County for at least 10 years.

Names are submitted by April 1 to be placed before Memorial Day and Sept. 1 to be place before Veterans Day.

The memorial adds delicate stars next to the names to honor those killed in action.

Henry County Medal of Honor recipients are listed separately, as this is the nation's highest military award for bravery.

Surprisingly, a high percentage of brave Iowa Medal of Honor precipitants are from Henry County.

In all of Iowa there have been 30 Medal of Honor Awards given, five of those have been given to Henry County servicemen:

Charles A. Swan, Paul F. Straub, and Edward J. Bebb are honored for their service in the Civil War.

John P. Yount is honored for his service in the Indian Wars.

World War I veteran Emory J. Pike rounds off these brave soldiers.

Memorial Day will be celebrated Monday, May 30 in Henry County with a service at the Mt. Pleasant High School, more details are to come.

To add a name to the memorial check with local funeral homes, the Veteran’s Hall, Veteran’s Affairs, or by calling 319-385-4983.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com