‘There’s our heritage, right there in those bricks’

SAL dedicate bricks commemorating those veterans who created their eligibility during Fall Meetings in Indianapolis.

Among the thousands of bricks surrounding the Soldiers & Sailors Monument in downtown Indianapolis are 18 newly placed ones dedicated by the “proud possessors of a priceless heritage,” the Sons of The American Legion.

“There’s our heritage, right there in those bricks,” SAL National Commander Thom Skelley said before a ceremony dedicating the new bricks on Oct. 3. STORY CONTINUES BELOW

Photo 1: The bricks purchased by members of the SAL. Photo 2: SAL Past National Commander Clifford Smith, National Subcommittee on Resolutions Chairman Mark McCue, and Detachment of Massachusetts Commander Jesse Limanek. Photo 3: SAL National Commander Thom Skelley leads a salute to the U.S. flag. Photo 4: Commander Skelley salutes the bricks as his father's name, William M. Skelley Sr., is read.

When Skelley was leading candidate for SAL national commander, he encouraged his fellow Sons to purchase bricks to be placed around the monument, which stands at the center of Monument Circle just a few blocks from American Legion National Headquarters.

Following the SAL National Executive Committee’s Saturday session at their Fall Meetings, Skelley, the five SAL national vice commanders, SAL NEC members and others gathered on Monument Circle for the dedication ceremony.

Among the speakers was Kurt Eisgruber, president of the Indiana War Memorials Foundation board of directors, who pointed out a nearby section of 1,507 bricks commemorating Indiana’s MIA World War II veterans.

“As long as this stands, those bricks will be here. … Those veterans will long be remembered here, right under our iconic Soldiers and Sailors Monument,” Eisgruber said.

The POW/MIA remembrance is special for Skelley, who has encouraged each squadron to ask a local restaurant to place a POW/MIA table in their business as his project for his leadership year.

Also special for Skelley: having a brick commemorating his father, Army veteran William M. Skelley Sr., at the foot of the Soldiers & Sailors Monument, as Skelley’s son, Evan, served six years in the Navy.

“Any time we can honor a veteran, we should take the opportunity to do so, and to have these bricks here in front of the Soldiers and Sailors Monument, especially where we meet, right in the heart of The American Legion headquarters city, was imperative. I could think of no better place to do it,” Skelley said.

“The history here, the history at the Indiana War Memorial, the ability to walk these grounds and see the monuments and the memorials to our veterans; there’s not a Son I know that doesn’t take every opportunity he can to reflect on, and it makes them think of their own veteran that gave them their eligibility for the Sons. I know I do.”

Among the other bricks dedicated by the SAL Saturday was one sponsored by the Detachment of Massachusetts. “We’re part of a national organization, we’re proud of our participation and our involvement,” said Detachment of Massachusetts Commander Jesse Limanek. “We just wanted to support Commander Skelley’s project when he sent this out when he was the leading candidate.”

Saturday’s ceremony also included IWMF board member Debra Roland singing “God Bless America.”

The Indiana War Memorials Foundation supports the Indiana War Memorials Commission by providing financial, communications and program support. The IWMC oversees the Indiana War Memorial, the Soldiers & Sailors Monument, Veterans Memorial Plaza, American Legion Mall with the World War II, Korea and Vietnam Memorials, University Park, the USS Indianapolis National Memorial, the Medal of Honor Memorial, and the 9/11 Memorial.

For more information on the Bricks of Honor program, go to BricksOfHonor.org.