Veterans receive help to complete Hayward memorial

Local cousins are looking for help to complete their goal of honoring veterans buried in a Hayward Township cemetery before Veterans Day.

Veterans Ernie Benesh, Emil Prantner and Milo Belshan set out to build a memorial for the more than 45 veterans buried at the Bohemian National Cemetery north of the Brick Hall in rural Hayward Township. Benesh, of Owatonna, and Prantner, of Austin, continue to work on the project and continue to seek funding. However, Belshan won’t see the goal completed, as he passed away April 29.

So far, a black granite monument, a base and two concrete life-size concrete soldiers have been received, and flags and flagpoles arrived last Wednesday. Star Granite in Albert Lea is working on a template for engraving the veterans’ names, military branches and war service into the granite.

The cousins have received help from the Glenville Area Women of Today, as the group created a special account for the memorial at Citizens State Bank in Glenville, and the group has helped raise funds.

“We wanted to do this patriotic project to show our appreciation to those who have served our country,” said Linda Kral, Glenville Area Women of Today treasurer. “We hope to have the Veterans’ memorial completed so we can hold the dedication on or around this Nov. 11 Veterans Day. We are so grateful for the generous grant from the NSDAR and the wonderful community support for this project”

In June, the Daughters of the American Revolution — Anthony Wayne Chapter in Mankato sponsored the project, and the chapter’s funds were matched by the special projects grant donation of $10,000.

Since last winter, many fundraising efforts have aimed to make the memorial a reality, including a sloppy joe fundraiser, a pancake breakfast and a kolache bake sale. In February, the Glenville Area Women of Today applied for the Daughters of the American Revolution special projects grant. The funding from the program is awarded to support projects in local communities that promote the organization’s mission, areas of historic preservation, education and patriotism.

For more information about the project, contact Linda Kral at 507-473-0076.