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VETS DAY PROJECT **


If you asked any one of your Veteran Classmates or Teachers Why - Why did you decide to join the military? - The responses would probably include "to serve our Country", "a calling to service" or "a family tradition". Ultimately though, it would boil down to "because we live in the Land of the Free".
 
Your Fort Dodge Senior High Class of 1968 includes 89 Classmates (that have been verified) that are Veterans besides the 13 teachers that have been verified. These brave young patriots raised their hands and pledged their lives & service to our country; not knowing what exactly was in store for them, but filled with pride and patriotism for their, and our, "Land of the Free".
 
In 2018 for your 50 Year Reunion, you commissioned and dedicated a "Classmate Memorial Bench" and two trees that were installed at the "Terry Moehnke Veterans Memorial Park" at the west side of Kennedy Memorial Park.

 

 
For the past five years, for your FDSH Class of 1968 Veterans Day Projects, we raised funds from your Classmates to honor your Veteran Classmates, and for the first time your teachers that we verified as Veterans, in the Veterans Day Supplement to the Fort Dodge Messenger. Your class has made up a very large and significant portion of that supplement - over half.
 
"The Land of the Free". What a LEGACY!

Don't just look at this statue - look "into it".
See the expressions that the artist captured on the faces of these two young patriots. Imagine that the occasion is Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day or Veterans Day. These 2 "kids" find a fallen tree limb and lash their flag to the makeshift flagstaff; All so they can "wave it from the rooftops" {a decorative pile of rocks but nonetheless "their rooftops") for all the world to see. Look at the pride on the boy's face as he raises the colors of his Country. Look at the joy on the girl's face as she reaches to help.
Now imagine the lump in their throats, not unlike the one you had as the "colors" passed and the marching band played a Sousa March. Now - you're "into" the Land of the Free statue.
 
The "Land of the Free" statue was installed in 2022 immediately behind and to the west of your FDSH68 Veterans Bench. What a great location! During the 2021 - 2022 FDSH68 Veterans Day Projects, you and your Classmates contributed $7179.00 for these projects (besides the funding for the Messenger Veterans Supplement).
 
WHAT A LEGACY YOU AND YOUR CLASS HAVE CREATED!
 
This year for your 2023 Veterans Day Project, our goal is to raise the funds to honor your Veteran Classmates and Teachers by including them again in the Veterans Day Supplement to the Fort Dodge Messenger and to help with the upkeep of the "Land of the Free" Statue. Additionally this year, our goal includes adding a 12-inch X 10-inch bronze dedication plaque to be mounted to the base of the statue.
The installation of this statue was an impressive and meaningful addition to the park, the area next to your Veteran Classmate Bench and trees and a fitting tribute to honor all Veterans and our great country - The Land of the Free.
 

Won't you join together with your Classmates
in this Veterans Day Project?

We are again using GoFundMe to make donations easy for you. Just "CLICK" on the GoFundMe logo below to go to our campaign donation page.

If you wish, you can send your donation with a check. Just make your check payable to "Fort Dodge Noon Sertoma Club" (you will receive a tax deductible receipt by return mail), write "FDSH68 Veterans" on the memo line and mail to:

FDSH Class of '68
Sam Hartman
2300 10th Ave N
Fort Dodge, IA 50501-2804

Thank you very much!


Please copy and share this link
https://gofund.me/278e7ab3
with your friends.
Let all DODGERS know about our project.