A reminder of honor:Oyens citizens band together to build veterans memorial

Veterans Jerry Rann and Bob Gengler, both of Oyens, show the design of the Oyens Veterans Memorial they are working to create in their town of 132. A committee has been working on the project and hopes for a Memorial Day 2009 unveiling. [Click to enlarge]

Memory is important for the community of Oyens, population 132.

Oyens residents are gearing up this year to remember 100 years of history for the Oyens Centennial, June 6.

But if all goes well, they'll also celebrate the completion of the Oyens Veterans Memorial.

"It's a permanent reminder of the sacrifice the guys in the service have gone through so we can live like we live, do what we do," said Bob Gengler, of Oyens, a veteran who is helping coordinate the memorial.

The black granite stone will bear the seals of the six branches of the U.S. armed forces and will most likely stand at the southeast corner of the Oyens cemetery, at the north end of town.

The memorial will bear the image of a soaring eagle against the backdrop of an American flag and will carry the words: "To honor and remember all veterans who served in the armed forces of the United States of America."

The stone will rest on a granite base that carries the name "Oyens Veterans Memorial," and that will rest on a cement base about one foot high.

"I visited several monument companies to get some ideas," said Jerry Rann, of Oyens, another veteran involved in planning.

"We traveled around the country and took pictures of other memorials," Gengler added.

The end result is a combination of many ideas, but the main focus was to include all veterans, they agreed.

The idea for the memorial actually began last Memorial Day in Oyens during the annual ceremony, which includes reading the names of local veterans who have died and flying their flags.

"Memorial Day generates a lot of pride in Oyens," Gengler said.

The community will fly 51 flags this year of soldiers who lived in Oyens or who had family there.

But a few people started talking about putting something up that would stay year round.

"We wanted something to pay tribute to the veterans past, present and future in remembrance of their sacrifices," Gengler said. "It's a historical reminder to upcoming generations."

In September 2008, an official committee formed.

Gengler said the group would like to see the memorial finished by Memorial Day 2009.

The stone -- 5 feet high, 3 feet wide and 6 inches thick -- has already been ordered and is expected to arrive by late March, he added.

The total cost for the memorial will be about $10,000, including the cement base and electricity for lighting.

They've already received donations, including the first check, $500 from Gholi and Georgia (Hoorneman) Darehshori in memory of Morse Hoorneman.

"We're gaining on it little by little," Gengler said.

They hope to raise all the money by donations, but the committee will host fundraisers if they need to.

"It's just something we feel we have to do," Rann said. "We've got to pay tribute because they've made the country what it is today."

To make a donation, contact Gengler at 546-8778 or speak with any of the other committee members: Rann, Dan Pick, Marcel Konz, Bill Evans, Randy Kellen, Mike Delperdang and Steve Swalve.