"Thank you for your service" and a handshake. Five respectful words and a thoughtful gesture - but just doesn't seem to be enough.

On Veterans Day, we take the opportunity to salute our 84 Classmates that have served our country in the armed forces. This year on November 11th, with your generous donation, we will again acknowledge all of them in the Veterans Day Supplement of the Fort Dodge Messenger newspaper.

As in the past, all proceeds from the cost of including Veteran listings in the supplement are generously donated by the Messenger to the Brushy Creek Honor Flight Fund. This fund sends Veterans, at no cost to them, to Washington DC to see their War Memorials.

We are excited to announce that we are expanding our fundraising campaign this year to include the Webster County Veterans Memorial Park. Three years ago for our 50 Year Reunion, you generously donated to produce our FDSH '68 Veterans Memorial Bench and plant two trees, which are located at the park. This year, all additional funds we raise (over and above the cost for the Veterans Day Supplement Listings) will be donated to the park to help fund a beautiful new monument that is to be placed immediately north of our bench.

The "Land of the Free" Bronze Statue itself is almost 5 feet tall and will be mounted on a granite base, making it even taller. The Fort Dodge Noon Sertoma Club plans to have this new monument in place in time for Veterans Day 2022 and is working on raising the approx. $8000 cost. We think that this will be a great addition to the area of our bench and we are thrilled to be a part of this new statue joining the many monuments in this beautiful park. We hope that we can make a significant contribution to help with its realization.

"LAND OF THE FREE" Statue

Won't you join us in helping to honor our Classmates that served our country in the Armed Forces? Any donation would be greatly appreciated and will help show our Veterans and community that the Fort Dodge Senior High Class of 1968 is proud of their 84 DODGER Veterans and that our country's greatness is built on the foundation of their courage and sacrifice.

The closing date for this campaign will be October 29, 2021.

Thank you very much.

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SHARE THIS CAMPAIGN USING THE SHARE BUTTON AT THE TOP OF THE 'GO FUND ME" PAGE.

Additional Views of "Land of the Free"

QUESTIONS? - email us HERE

"Click" on the GoFundMe to donate

--  or --

Mail a check payable to the "Fort Dodge Noon Sertoma Club"
(write FDSH68 Veterans" on the memo line)
and send it to:
FDSH Class of '68
Sam Hartman
2300 10th Ave N
Fort Dodge, IA 50501-2804