Huntingburg’s avenue of veterans honors those who served
Huntingburg’s Fourth Street is now an avenue of banners honoring the men and women who have served or are currently serving in the military.
Through a unique program with the Huntingburg Merchants and the City of Huntingburg, community members were offered the opportunity to purchase a banner in honor of a veteran to be on display along the street. The banners were installed this week on the first blocks running east and west of U.S. 231/Main Street.
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Wednesday evening, though rainy, the city and merchants celebrated the new banners in a special ceremony with the families and friends with veterans on display.
Huntingburg Mayor Neil Elkins told the crowd at the Huntingburg Grind Coffee & Tea Company that, due to the program’s popularity, 39 banners are now on display along Fourth Street, and several people are on a waiting list to be added.
“We will continue them up to City Hall and along (U.S.) 231,” Elkins told the crowd. “We won’t leave anyone behind.”
Carla Pershing, the owner of the Downtown Emporium, has three banners in front of her store featuring family members. Her dad, Carl Bredemeier and brother, Rex Bredemeier, served in the Navy. Her nephew, Tyson Bredemeier, joined the Marines and served in Iraq.
“I think it’s really neat,” she said about seeing the banners outside her shop daily.
Across the street from her shop, Logan Braadt’s image is on a banner. His grandmother, Norma Amos, said she purchased a banner for him as soon as she heard about the program. She works in the Downtown Emporium and sees her grandson’s image daily.
Braadt is a pilot in the Air Force. “I got to pin his wings on him,” she said proudly. She and her husband, Jack Amos, helped to raise their grandson. Mr. Amos has passed, but he also served in the military and was the commander of the Huntingburg VFW for several years. Ms. Amos continues to remain involved.
Mayor Elkins summed up his talk by quoting General Douglas MacArthur. “Duty, honor, country: Those three hallowed words reverenly dictate what you ought to be, what you can be, what you will be,” he said.
“I ask every citizen of the City of Huntingburg to remember the commitment of these veterans and their families each time you look upon these banners,” Elkins added.
Elkins also mentioned the city’s brick program for the Veterans Memorial. Each brick is $150 and supports the purchase of new flags at the memorial and throughout the city.
After the ceremony, several folks walked along the rainy street to view the veterans on display. Each banner lists the veteran’s military branch, service dates, and an image of the veteran. The veterans are from throughout the county, and some are family members who live outside the area. According to organizers, access to the program is not limited to Huntingburg residents.
Here is a list of the veterans honored:
- Dr. Jamie Greenwell
- Ty Hunter
- Alvin D. Elshoff
- Daniel F. Elshoff
- Robert C. Oser, Sr.
- Edwin F. Souders
- Jared Schipp
- Anthony B. Laughlin
- Tyler J. Laughlin
- James Potter
- Joseph Allen, Jr.
- Robert H. Menke
- William C. Menke
- Logan Braadt
- George Ryan Bockting
- Richard Leibering
- Joshua L. McDonald
- Lucas J. McDonald
- Thomas F. Schnellenberger
- Levi Hupp
- John H Wagner
- Colton J. Frick
- Douglas W. Biehl
- Alex W. Biehl
- William “Bill” Schnute
- Orin N. Gress
- Rex Bredemeier
- Elmo Sollman
- Tyson Bredemeier
- Carl Bredemeier
- Sylvester M. Giesler
- Anthony P. Riley
- Ralph V. Michel
- Scott Belmore
- Lee Broeker
- Alec Terwiske
- Michael Blume
- Mark Stephen Stillwell
- Hilbert Warren Tooley
The banners can be viewed now, but the public is invited to stroll Fourth Street during the 4th Fridays celebration this Friday at 5 p.m.
4th Fridays is a free outdoor summer concert series with food, a cash bar, and activities for the kids. They are set to take place on the fourth Fridays of the summer months. In addition to this Friday, 4th Fridays will occur in July and August at Market Street Park in Huntingburg, Indiana.
