Memorial Day is just two short weeks away. Many of us will be trekking to cemeteries around the nation to lay flowers on the graves of our lost loved ones, but Decoration Day was originally established in 1868 to honor and decorate the graves of war-fallen soldiers. Monuments honoring the lives of those who died serving our country are a common fixture at cemeteries. This includes the one that was dedicated at the Lakin Cemetery on Memorial Day 1936.
In early 1935, the local American Legion and relief authorities completed plans to erect a monument for soldiers who died during World War I. The monument was part of a larger effort at that time to improve the Lakin Cemetery using township monies and cemetery dues as well as labor and funds provided by the Works Progress Administration (WPA), a program designed to provide unemployed Americans with work and income during the Great Depression. The cemetery’s roads were graveled, an oval drive installed, improvements made to the watering system, and the grounds beautified. This included the landscaping of a new park just inside the south gates.
The work was done under the direction of a sub-committee of the cemetery association whose members were association president J.J. Nash, secretary James Parker, Mrs. George Garrettson and Charles Loucks. Both Nash and Parker put in a tremendous amount of time planning and supervising the project, and a force of men, at times as many as 33, were put to work on the improvements.
The 16-foot tall monument, a concrete shaft with 10-inch thick sides and hollowed center, was erected in the park area facing south. A cap was placed on the top with the idea that it may one day be replaced by a statue. Engineered by A.K. Brown and Guy Harsha, the American Legion monument was dedicated on May 30, 1936, in conjunction with the annual decoration of the graves of all ex-service men. State Rep. Raimon G. Walters, first commander of Garden City’s American Legion post, was the chief speaker for the occasion. Previous to the erection of the monument, memorial services on Memorial Day weekend had been conducted over the grave of Earl McConaughey, a local WWI soldier who died in 1918 from pneumonia after contracting the Spanish Flu.
In 1954, Florence Streain Beiderwell provided funds to apply a brick rock veneer to the shaft. Beiderwell, the daughter of William and Eva Streain, grew up in this community and made her contribution in honor of her parents and family.
Wherever you may be this Memorial Day, please keep in mind that all who live in our country have profited by those who died defending it. Honor their sacrifices.
SOURCES: History of Kearny County Vols. I & II; Office of Veteran Affairs; archives of the Lakin Independent, Garden City Herald and Garden City Telegram; and museum archives.