Rockwood dedicates Veterans Memorial

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Over one hundred and seventy people attended Rockwood Day on September 27th, and after a basket dinner at noon, a dedication ceremony of the recently erected Veterans Memorial was held. Those attending from out of state traveled from Washington, North Carolina, Arkansas, Tennessee, Florida, and various towns in Missouri.

Several towns in Illinois were also represented including Springfield, Ottawa, Belleville, DeSoto, Hartford, Bethalto, Cottage Hills, Moro, New Douglas, Cutler, Percy, Steeleville, Edwardsville, Granite City, Waterloo, Modoc, Chester, and Rockwood.

Those who participated in the dedication program by unveiling the monument were veterans: Floyd Hayes, WWII; Ralph Asbury, Korea; Ronald Harris, Viet Nam; and John Cameron Rushing, Iraq. The flag was posted by Jerry Wingerter, 1959-1963, and Kurt Rushing, Marine Sargeant and Iraqi veteran.

Wreaths were placed on each side of the monument by veterans: Edward Wingerter, 1957-1959; Bill Johnson, 1957-1959; Kerry Johnson, 1976-1978; and Douglas Tudor, 1956-1958.

Harry Riddle, Viet Nam and Korean veteran, read the names of those killed in action, and Kenneth Albert VanMeter, 1957-1975, tapped the bell for this service.

Members of the Chester VFW and American Legion assisted in the Memorial portion of the program by giving the 21 Gun Salute and playing Taps.

Marlene Eckert gave the opening and closing prayers and Rose Ratcliff sang the National Anthem and led the group in singing God Bless America.

The monument has 242 names of those who were born in Rockwood Precinct or left to serve their country from here, including all wars - from the Civil War through the Iraq War. The names of Robert Moore and Samuel Mansker, the only veterans from Rockwood from the War of 1812 that could be found in the research, have also been put on the stone.

The Village of Rockwood extends appreciation and heartfelt thanks to all who helped in raising the funds to erect the monument and to all those who came and helped in any way to make this day special.