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See Names Listed On Memorial
Veterans, family members impressed at dedication of Keokuk Veterans Memorial
By Diane Vance and Cindy Iutzi/Gate City Staff Writers The Keokuk Veterans Memorial was consecrated in the hearts of veterans, families, friends and citizens Monday morning in a poignant ceremony baptized by rain. Speeches, patriotic music by McNamara's Band, the American flag flying high, the honor guard, a 21-gun salute, fireworks, "Taps" the "Star Spangled Banner" and a ribbon cutting served as backdrops to the slabs of granite and marble that bear the names of area men and women who have served America in time of war. The memorial and those 1,400 names of the living and the dead will draw the hundreds who attended and many who did not, back to the grassy park at 18th and Carroll streets, time and time again. The memorial's graceful veranda arches evoke the memory of arches on the Mississippi riverfront long ago. Dynamic engravings of battle scenes, granite wings that give a sense of privacy from passersby and the stirring words, Honor, Duty, Courage and Freedom, exert a pull on everyone who walks up the sidewalks to the gray and black granite and marble memorial. Johnnie Keppel, who lives eight miles north of Keokuk with his wife, Teresa, waited in the warm morning for the ceremony to begin. He has just received his 100 percent disability designation from the Veterans Administration. Employed by Fruehouf/Wabash for 35 years until the plant shut down several years ago, Keppel's war injuries are now interfering with his ability to work. "I think it's beautiful," Teresa said, looking over at the gray and black granite and marble memorial. "It's a lot, but it was needed a long time ago," Johnnie said. "Now my grandkids can come back and see it. It's an honor to everybody to have someone finally give recognition and respect. It helps with the pain of all those years." When Keppel, a sergeant in the U. S. Army, stepped on a landmine in the Mekong River Delta, his active service in the Vietnam conflict was over after just four months. He spent the next six months at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C., and the rest of his life living with the results of multiple injuries to his legs and back. The scars from his wounds were not all he carried from one of the most divisive eras in American history. He also was wounded by the outpouring of contempt his fellow servicemen received at the hands of anti-war protesters when they finally were able to come home. "They spit in their faces," Keppel said. Keppel's name, his son Gary's name (U.S. Navy) and his son-in-law's name, Christopher Kearns (U.S. Air Force), are on the memorial. Keppel is concerned about the conflict in the Mideast. "It's the same as the Vietnam war," he said. "They (soldiers) don't know who they're fighting. We shouldn't even be there." Gerald Anderson of Wever came in honor of his great-grandfather, Louis Fife, whose name he put on the Veterans Memorial. "He is a medal of honor recipient," said Anderson. "He was in the Army cavalry during the Indian campaigns out in Arizona. He was born in Des Moines County and is buried in Tourney Cemetery in North Lee County. He lived in this area." Jane Watson of Keokuk surprised her father, Bill Tuttle, also of Keokuk on Sunday. "My dad served in World War II on a naval aircraft carrier," she said. "I hadn't gotten his name on the monument at first, but had an opportunity to add it at the last minute. I brought him out here yesterday and we looked at the names. His isn't in alphabetical order, but added at the back of the list. He was surprised to see his name. I told him he deserves it." Sitting with Watson was Leta Nye of Keokuk. Her husband, the late Delmar Nye, served in World War II and Korea. "He died just a few months ago," she said. "My sons, Craig lives in Fort Madison and Chad lives in Keokuk. They both served in Vietnam." Elijah Griffin, of Warsaw, Ill., came to see his name on the monument. Griffin and his wife, Naomi are both active in the Warsaw American Legion. He served in World War II. He said it is important for the community to remember, recognize and honor all veterans. A young couple with three daughters, Alleanah, 3; Morrigan, 16 months; and Danielle, 4 months old; came from Alexandria, Mo., for the dedication. Dan and Barbara Oiler held the older girls, who waved little American flags before the rain started. "Our dads, both of my grandparents, my brother-in-law, cousins and friends are listed on the monument," said Barbara. A young Marine, Jeremy Hamelton, 2/24 Marine Corps Reserve, E Company, Des Moines, with a tour of duty in Iraq under his belt in his first 18 months of service, wore his dress uniform and was proudly surrounded by family - his parents Karen and David Swinderman and his girlfriend, Angela Link of West Point. "This is to honor us," he said in a bemused way. "I had no idea about it until I got home. I noticed my name was there and I felt good." Hamilton's company has been "doing police work, patrolling cities, keeping insurgents from attacking civilians and training Iraqi policemen." He believes he and other American troops in Iraq are bringing freedom to the land and have made some headway against the enemy. "When people in Iraq saw us, they knew they were safe," he said. "Some welcomed us open handed, some were afraid. The insurgents are everywhere. In the last three months we have stopped getting attacked. They're afraid of messing with the Marines. Lynn Johnson of Keokuk stood in the rain with her brother watching the ceremony. "We came out here yesterday and took a picture of the monument where my dad's name is," she said. The late Herman Johnson served in the army on the Aleutian Islands in World War II. "I got the photos developed and it's neat because we're reflected in the black granite of the list of names, standing in front of the monument," she said. Several community leaders and contributors attended the dedication. Commander of Post #41, American Legion, Pat Hogan, gave the officer of the day greeting and introduced the guests and memorial committee members. "The price paid by these men and women outweighs any inconvenience of the rain," he said. Hogan thanked the presidents of three Keokuk banking institutions for support on the project: Jim Hankes, Ed Johnston and Bill Logan. Two Gold Star mothers, Sylvia Rudd and Betty McDowell, cut the ribbon for the official dedication. Families with military members in service are given a Blue Star to hang in their home. The blue is exchanged for a Gold Star upon the death of the military person in action. "Those of you sitting here in the rain tell me you are here for the duration," said Keokuk Mayor David Gudgel. "It tells me what you think of witnessing this shining moment in Keokuk history. I reverently proclaim 'God bless America.' To those currently protecting our country, God speed. This is a fitting memorial to those who've sacrificed." He said the memorial is not just for those who've died, but all veterans who have served their country. "Our community has truly been 'caught doing good,'" said George Morgan, chairman of the memorial committee. "This memorial is not for love of conquest, but for love of freedom. This memorial does not cancel our debt to those who serve. "God is looking our for us. We need this rain and we need this dedication." He said if there was anyone to "slap on the back," for the memorial, the community should recognize Kent and Jane Peters in their relentless dedication in seeing the project through. Morgan asked for all veterans to stand and be recognized, then family members, wives, mothers, and others who "keep the lights on at home for them." "As I watched the memorial taking shape, I saw a theme emerge," said Morgan. "It's about family. This monument is sacred." An honor roll of names of deceased was read aloud accompanied by bagpipe music.
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