14 | SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2024
HONORING VETERANS
HALL COUNTY COMMISSION PRESERVING THE LAND Construction at the Nebraska Veterans Cemetery is on track
if one is made. The county hopes to acquire the land at little to no cost. Shuda said the expansion “probably won’t be needed in our lifetimes,” but it’s impor- tant to preserve the land for future use. Shuda gave an update on the project, which expands and improves the existing Grand Island Veterans Memorial Cemetery on Capital Avenue. The cemetery will hopefully be com- pleted in the spring. It’s “moving along very well,” Shuda said. The first burials could take place in the summer to late summer of 2025. The cemetery will feature a 40-foot car- illon tower, with a clock on each of its four sides. “It’ll be like St. Mary’s Cathedral, with the chiming of the bells,” Shuda said in an interview. Other highlights will be two bronze mon- uments. One will be of a soldier in a kneel- ing position, as if he’s presenting the flag to a family. The other will be an American
JEFF BAHR je .bahr@theindependent.com
The Nebraska Veterans Cemetery at Grand Island isn’t even complete, but local veterans supporters are already looking to the future, when the cemetery will need to expand. The Hall County Commission took the first steps last month toward preserving 26.2 acres north of the cemetery. The land is currently owned by the city. Local veterans supporters hope the prop- erty will be transferred to the county, which would lease it to United Veterans Club for up to 99 years. If the transfer occurs, hay or alfalfa will be planted on the ground, the proceeds from which would help maintain the appearance of the land. Hall County Veterans Service O cer Don Shuda and Mike Ponte of the United Veter- ans Club appeared at the meeting to discuss the cemetery. At the meeting, the county board voted to accept an o er from the city for the land
eagle with an 8-foot wingspan, to be built at the corner of Capital and Webb Road. Shuda said the completed cemetery will be pleasing to the eye “and worthy of our veterans that will be interred there.” Commissioner Pam Lancaster said the cemetery will be “something we can all be proud of.” “This is really going to be a mini-Arling- ton,” she said. “I mean, it’s really going to be something to behold.” A bronze eagle with an 8-foot wingspan will be featured at the Nebraska Veterans Cemetery at Grand Island.
HALL COUNTY VETERANS SERVICE OFFICE PHOTOS A 40-foot carillon tower similar to this one will be built at the Nebraska Veterans Cemetery at Grand Island.
InHonorOf
All Veterans... Every honorably discharged Veteran will receive a FREE Casket or Urn with a funded prearrangement at Apfel Funeral Home. *Excludes all previous funded prearrangements. Offer available now thru November!
BEST OF GRAND ISLAND 2022
theindependent.com
Call For An Appointment 308-384-0590
1123 W. 2nd • Grand Island, NE www.apfelfuneralhome.com
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs