A good number of people were on hand during yesterday’s ceremony honoring Manitowoc County Veterans at the Veterans Memorial on North 18th Street.
Tom Hoffman serves on the Manitowoc County United Veterans Committee, and he told SeehaferNews.com, “The monument’s been here since 1923. The flame was erected in 1969 and the additional monuments were built in 1986 to honor all veterans of Manitowoc County. They served their country well and all the names on the stones are in the memory of those who did not make it home.”
Tom also is the Chairman of the Manitowoc County United Veterans Banquet and serves on the Committee to raise funds for the Eternal Flame located inside the monument. The Flame was lit to honor all who paid the ultimate sacrifice to keep America free. The Eternal Flame was close to being extinguished not too long ago.
Hoffman says the idea was born many years ago with a donation from a young lady named Magnus Healy. “She donated the money to the city not knowing that the flame was run by the County Veterans Council,” Hoffman explained. “The city had the money and their hands were tied to where they could put it as interest rates continually declined over time most of the money was being used for maintenance of the monuments and to keep the flame lit. So-former Finance Director informed us that we will run out of money in a few years and fundraising efforts began.”
The fundraising campaign began two years ago-and Hoffman says they are at approximately $155,000 of their $200,000 goal.
Donors who contributed over $1,000 have their names etched into the backside of the stone which names Manitowoc County residents who died serving in Vietnam.
To donate log onto savetheflamemanty@gmail.com
