COMANCHE COUNTY, KANSAS: HISTORY & GENEALOGY
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The Western Star, November 9, 1945.

Memorial Shaft Dedication Sunday

Special Armistice Day Service in Charge of Legion

On Sunday at 3 p.m. at Crown Hill cemetery east of this city a newly erected $2500 Memorial Shaft will be dedicated in a special dedicatory service sponsored by Comanche Post No. 122, the American Legion.

Engraved on the 20 foot granite shaft are the names of Comanche county's war dead - those who during World Wars I and II gave their lives for their country - four during 1917-18 and 19 during 1931-45. Following is the HONOR ROLL.

World War I:

Harrison Metzker
John R. Crawford
Guy A. Schrock
Eugene Wares

World War II:

Clarence L. Oller
Aubrey C. Holland
Eric A. Sims
Herbert L. Seyfrit
Elwin E. Smith
Wm. E. Griffith
Hobert H. Thompson
Martin B. McMillen
Hugh H. Melrose
Alfred G. Seidel
Aquire B. Zane
Howard R. King
Leo Curtis Thrall
Marion L. Canfield
Donald F. Betzer
Robert Booth
Robert L. Hough
William H. Finney
Ernest A. Trummel

Other names of Comanche county boys will be engraved on the shaft as their death is confirmed by the War Department.

A special invitation has been sent to the families of those who made the Supreme Sacrifice for their country and these relatives will be given a position of honor.

Veterans of the two wars, men and women now in the service, the Boy Scouts and members of the American Legion and Legion Auxiliary will attend in a body.

The public is cordially invited to attend this dedicatory service which is a tribute, not only to our fallen heroes but to the valiant efforts of the living who have helped preserve the peace and security of this nation.

Rev. M. M. Anspaugh of Attica, Kans., former Commander of the Coldwater American Legion Post and pastor of the Assembly of God church in this city, will be the dedication speaker.

The Coldwater school band will play two numbers, the Community Chorus will give two selections and wreaths will be placed at the base of the memorial shaft in honor of the fallen heroes of both World War I and World War II.

This will be the most impressive service and should be attended by a large number of the county's citizens. The public is invited to be present.

In case of stormy weather Sunday the services will be held in the school auditorium.

Notice to veterans: All veterans in or out of the service are urgently requested to be at the court house at 2 p.m. in uniform, if possible, Sunday afternoon.

The American Legion Memorial Shaft in Crown Hill Cemetery, Comanche County, Kansas. Photo by Bobbi (Hackney) Huck. At left: The American Legion Memorial Shaft in Crown Hill Cemetery.

Photo:
Bobbi Huck

"Another memorial to war casualties is the American Legion Memorial Shaft in the center of the circle drive at Crown Hill Cemetery. This shaft was the first of its kind to be built in southwest Kansas. At the dedication in November of 1945 about sixty veterans of World Wars I and II were present and there was a crowd of three or four hundred."

- from Coldwater Centennial Notebook by Evelyn Reed.

Thanks to Shirley Brier for finding, transcribing and contributing the above news article to this web site!

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