VFW Post 4756 members Bill Reynolds, Les Budnik, Bob Walling, Patrick Muenks, Kenny Hoffman, Mike Jacquin, and Dan Schaefer gathered on Sunday to dedicate a new sign for the Vietnam War Flag Memorial.

In 2019, seven U.S. flags and one POW/KIA flag were placed in memory of Osage County soldiers — Roger Walling, Harold A. Rehagen, Gary Scheulen, Gilbert Huber,  George Holtschneider, Paul Hasenbeck, and Bernard Plassmeyer (missing in action) — who either died or were reported missing during the Vietnam War.

“A great job was done on both signs and is highly appreciated by VFW Post 4756,” Bob Walling said. 

The late Al Hoste got the project started, along with another at the Linn Cemetery in memory of veterans of World War II and the Korean Conflict.

Blank signs were made and donated by Grimco Inc., of Owensville, and brought to Linn by Lisa Schlepper, an employee of the company who lives in Osage County.

These signs were then painted by Fatima students in Sonya Walker’s art class, with Sarah Groene being one of the main participants, Walling noted.

Inside the VFW, a Vietnam War Flag Memorial consists of burial flags in specially-built cases as well as individual metal plaques identifying each veteran. Completing this part of the memorial is a framed picture of a 1975 Unterrified Democrat newspaper article written by Joe Welschmeyer about the seven veterans.  

As part of Sunday’s dedication, Taps was played.