New Veterans Memorial will stand test of time

On Memorial Day, our local veterans saw a dream come true with the dedication of the new Veterans Memorial located in the courthouse yard.
    Fittingly, the centerpiece of the memorial relates the true meaning of what Memorial Day is all about—a bronze sculpture of a combat soldier praying over a fellow soldier who had fallen in battle.
     Through the work of our veterans in Chase County along with many generous donations, we will have a memorial that will span the generations, from our grandkids to their grandkids.
    The memorial serves as a
poignant reminder of the freedoms we enjoy as Americans, freedoms we too often take for granted, and the great cost that’s paid for those freedoms.  
    That cost has been paid with the lives of Americans generations before us and, unfortunately, the generations that will follow us.
    It’s the veterans, both those who served and survived and those who who never came home, who truly understand what those freedoms really cost.
    It’s our duty as citizens to recognize those men and women who have answered the call to serve our country—past or present; living or dead.
    Whenever you pass by the courthouse give a glance over at the kneeling soldier.
    Think about how it must feel to lose a comrade in battle. Think about the sacrifices our warriors pay to defend our country and protect our freedoms.
    Then say a quick prayer, asking the Lord to bless them and keep them, while we go on with our daily lives.
    The courage and sacrifices our veterans make will ensure that our country will stand the test of time as well.