Plaques Go Up at NE MT Memorial Honoring Individual Campaigns

New plaques were installed at the Northeast Montana Veterans Memorial in Fort Peck on May 22. The plaques were commissioned by the Memorial's Board and designed with the help of Montana Granite Company with the board deciding on the various sayings inscribed on the plaques.

Memorial Board member and Veterans of Foreign War Post 3107 Commander Art Widhalm said the plaques were intended to commemorate the wars that the country had been engaged in since its inception. According to Widhalm, when the memorial was being planned many felt the individual conflicts should be placed on the service members' memorial tiles. Instead the board decided to go with the option of commemorating the conflicts individually so as not to prioritize some tiles or lessen the service of veterans who had not served in an individual conflict but nonetheless served their country.

The conflicts honored are World War I with the inscription reading, "In memory of those killed in action in the 'War to End All Wars'". World War II is inscribed with, "Dedicated to the Military Men and Women of the 'Greatest Generation' who paid the ultimate price." Korea is inscribed with, "Remembering the Soldiers From the 'Forgotten War' who gave their all." Vietnam reads, "Honoring all those who died for their country fighting an 'Unpopular War'." The last plaque recognizes every other campaign in U.S. history and reads, "Dedicated to all the men and women who unselfishly gave their lives protecting our freedom in all other wars, conflicts or military operations. In the past and in the future."

The plaques were designed and installed by Montana Granite's John and Daren Rummel out of Great Falls, Mont. John Rummel served as an Army veteran during the Vietnam War. Montana Granite has done nearly all the granite work at the memorial. The install was assisted by Art and Marilyn Widhalm, the memorial's historians Dale and Karen Bender, veteran Lorie Sampson, veteran Jeff Cole and veteran Tom Markle.