A substantial crowd of veterans, local dignitaries and other community members gathered in Memorial Park Thursday evening, Sept. 8 for the Groundbreaking Ceremony for Fennimore’s Veterans Memorial.

In only eight months since fundraising began in 2010, over $45,000 has been raised toward the $150,000 memorial, which will enable the city of Fennimore to show its appreciation to all Fennimore area veterans. The title stone, which will stand at the front of the park, has been purchased and will be the first of the stones erected in the park.

Local dignitaries and honored guests at the Groundbreaking Ceremony were Anita Wiest, Cindy Arndt, Memorial Committee Co-chair Dagna Doan, Jill Grennan (Sen. Ron Johnson representative), Linda Parrish, Henry Oeschle, John Veld, Mayor Chuck Stenner, Pete Finnegan, Rep. Travis Tranel, John Medinger (Sen. Herb Kohl representative), Southwest Tech President Dr. Duane Ford, Lorinda Dull of Eternal Art Monument Company, Memorial Committee Co-chair Merry Cooley, Bob Griffith, Clara Peterson, Betty Burkeland and local veterans of the Honor Guard.    

To make a donation to the memorial, send payment to American Bank, c/o Fennimore Memorial Park Fund, 1055 Lincoln Ave., Fennimore, WI 53809. With questions, contact Dagna Doan, 822-4226, or Merry Cooley, 822-3983.