The DeKalb County Veterans Memorial in Indiana honors all of its communities veterans and resides on land donated by the local American Legion post.
Around 150 or so veterans and community members braved temperatures in the high 20s, a wind chill 10 degrees colder and occasional snow flurries to both commemorate Veterans Day while celebrating the creation of a new veterans memorial in Northern Indiana.
On Nov. 11, a dedication ceremony took place in Auburn to celebrate the completed DeKalb County Veterans Memorial. The memorial – just two blocks from the city’s Main Street – features six stone pillars representing each of the branches of the U.S. Armed Forces with flags atop each of them, a higher flagpole with the U.S. and POW/MIA flags, and benches for visitors to sit as they take in the memorial.
Once temperatures hit 75 degrees or higher, the names of veterans submitted by family members will be engraved on each of the pillars.
Auburn Mayor Dave Clark called the memorial “DeKalb County’s newest treasure. This was a project that was long-time coming, and it feels great to be here today celebrating its conclusion – not only today, but Veterans Day.”
The memorial started as a service project for Junior Auburn Main Street, a teen-based philanthropic group under the umbrella of Auburn Main Street. The group raised nearly $200,000 for the memorial, whose completion was a collaborative effort that included the land for the project being donated by American Legion Post 97 in Auburn.
Post 97’s original building was located on the property but burned down in 1992. Because it was on a flood plain, the post was unable to rebuild in the same location. They moved to a new facility about five minutes away but never took down the flagpole from the original building’s lot.
“This town has always been good about veterans,” Post 97 Commander Mike Harper said. “They’ve been really good in supporting us. When Clark contacted us, we wanted to be a part of this. This (memorial) is fantastic. It’s going to be here for generations now.”
Past Post 97 Commander Bill Towle, who serves as vice commander of Indiana’s Fourth District, was one of several speakers who delivered remarks during the dedication ceremony.
“This monument is more than stone and metal,” Towle said. “It is a symbol of gratitude from all of us that serves as a reminder of the peace of freedom and the unwavering spirit of those who have defended our country in times of war and peace. Each name inscription represents a personal story of dedication and valor, stories that have shaped our history and continue to inspire us.
“As we dedicate this memorial – a lasting tribute to the men and women who have served our nation in the armed forces – today we gather not only to celebrate their courage and sacrifice, but also to ensure their legacy endures in our community for generations to come.”
DeKalb County Commissioners Bill Hartman, Kellen Dooley and Jim Miller also were in attendance and spoke briefly, while congressional staffers read letters from U.S. Rep. Marlin Stutzman and U.S. Sen. Jim Banks.
Also taking part in the ceremony was State Rep. Ben Smaltz, who represents Auburn. He noted the irony of the freezing-cold temperatures during the dedication.
“I know it’s cold. But I just want to put that in perspective a little bit,” Smaltz said. “The sacrifices that our veterans have made for us, the cold they’ve endured. The rain. The mud. The time away from their family and friends. Missing milestones (as) their children grow up.
“I am so proud to be a member of this community … that values our heroes. That remembers them. This memorial is a fantastic addition to our community, where we can come to remember the people that fought for us.”
Auburn Main Street executive Director Ann Finchum thanked all those who helped make the project a reality, referencing both Post 97 and the American Legion Families from Post 202 in Butler and Post 178 in Garrett among the list. She said 2,000 individuals contributed to the project.
She also expressed appreciation for being a part of the memorial’s creation. “This journey has truly enriched me, not just through the planning and fundraising, but through the powerful stories shared by our local veterans,” Finchum said. “Listening to their experiences, sacrifices and quiet acts of courage has been humbling and transformative. Their voices have shaped this memorial into more than a structure. It’s a living testament to honor, resilience and community. I will carry their stories with me, and I am grateful for the opportunity today and for future generations.”
The dedication ceremony doubled as the community’s Veterans Day commemoration. “To all the veterans here today, thank you,” Clark said. “Thank you for your courage, your service and your sacrifice. It reminds us every day what it means to be something bigger than ourselves.
“We often think of veterans as people in uniform years ago. But the truth is, they were once just like the rest of us. Kids trying to figure out life, chasing dreams, finding their way. They just chose to do something extraordinary with their life.”
Towle reminded the large crowd what veterans have provided to the nation.
“On this day we remember those who have answered the call to serve, the families who stood beside them and the fallen who have given the ultimate sacrifice,” he said. “Let us never forget the freedoms we enjoy today are built upon the foundation laid by our veterans.”
- Honor & Remembrance