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November 8, 2009

Cass County Roosters aiming high at Gala for war monument repairs.

by Kevin Lilly Pharos-Tribune Sun Nov 08, 2009, 08:53 PM EST

In less than two weeks, area military veterans will receive recognition at a party/fundraiser hosted by the Cass County Roosters.

The third annual Salute to the Armed Forces Gala is schedule for Saturday, Nov. 21, at the Knights of Columbus, 1007 17th St. Doors open at 6 p.m. The program starts at 8 p.m.

At the event held in memory of Cpl. Shawn Hensel, the Logansport soldier who was killed in Iraq in 2007, there will be finger foods, a cash bar and patriotic music by Tuxedo Junction, as well as silent and live auctions and a reverse raffle.

All money generated from the Gala will go toward much-needed repairs on the Soldiers and Sailors Monument in Mount Hope Cemetery in Logansport.

“It’s getting pretty bad. It’s starting to show its age,” said Rooster George Franklin of the 122-year-old monument dedicated to the unknown soldiers of the Civil War.

According to an estimate from Mid-Continental Restoration Company out of Indianapolis, renovating the monument will cost about $32,000, which would cover fixing broken limestone, repairing all tuck pointing at masonry mortar joint and cleaning the surface with chemicals.

The Roosters’ goal this year is to raise at least $10,000 for the monument and $1,000 for Heroes Among Us, a local organization that sends 10 local veterans to the Veterans Day ceremonies in Washington D.C.

Franklin said the club is researching grant opportunities to make up the difference in covering all necessary work on the monument. The county has already paid $6,000 to replace the wrought iron fence.

The Roosters continue collecting monetary donations and silent auction donations from local businesses.

Franklin said so far donations are below what they were the previous two years.

“We’re struggling this year,” said Franklin, who credited a tough economy for the lower numbers.

The first year, the Roosters raised $14,000, which was matched by the Cass County Community Foundation to endow the Shawn Hensel Memorial Scholarship. A $1,000 scholarship is now awarded annually to a high school senior whose parents or grandparents served honorably in the armed forces.

In 2008, the Roosters presented a check for $18,000 to the Cass County Veterans Council for renovating the World War II Role of Honor monument in front of the City Building. Another $1,000 went to Heroes Among Us.

The keynote speaker this year is U.S. Marine and Vietnam veteran Zane “The Z man” Hanna, who is a Logansport High School graduate, a former Logansport firefighter and an assistant pastor at Calvary Union Church.

Although the Gala will highlight Vietnam veterans, veterans from all branches of the military will be honored, said Franklin who is hoping for a big turnout.

Know the oldest living Vietnam veteran?

Cass County Roosters are looking for the oldest living Vietnam veteran in Cass County. The person would be honored at the upcoming Salute to the Armed Forces Gala. Nominations can be made to either George Franklin at 574-870-4793 or Wilkinson Heating & Plumbing at 574-753-2208.

Kevin Lilly is news editor of the Pharos-Tribune. He can be reached at 574-732-5117 or kevin.lilly@pharostribune.com.

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