Last week, two important groups were left out of the thankful list.

The first is so obvious and it really should have been included. The military groups of Edwardsburg are a reason to be thankful.

The Edwardsburg American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) have made substantial contributions to Edwardsburg. Besides providing support for veterans, current military members and their families, they have supported the community in their activities. Both groups have built a meeting place for their groups.

Many think that they only get together for good times, but it is far more than that.  They provide camaraderie for those who have served their country. They give assistance to vets who need advice or medical care.

Both the Legion and the VFW are very active in the community. The Memorial Day Parade is an example of their community support. It is an event that this community can be proud of. It is a fitting tribute to those who have served.

The American Legion has provided a monument for the memory of those who have served. When the fire station was on US-12, a large stone monument was placed in the front. After the fire station was sold and a place was needed to relocate the monument the Edwardsburg Museum offered the veterans groups a space on their property. The American Legion had an appropriate design for the placement of the monument, which included bricks with names of those who served. Flagpoles and benches were added to the design, which honor those who have served in all wars.

The American Legion has been in Edwardsburg for many years and was originally in the building that is now Robin’s Nest and a memorial sign was in the yard of the building. When the Legion moved further out of town it lost its Edwardsburg identity for a while.

Each year, the Memorial Day Parade stops at the Monument Memorial to pay respect to those who have fallen, and a short ceremony is conducted by the American Legion and the VFW.

This is a fitting way to honor the memory of those who have served.

The other group not recognized last week is the Edwardsburg Area Historical Museum.

Otis and Mary Montgomery, along with Mary Catherine Morse in 1998, started the museum. Thanks to their foresight and contributions the museum is alive and well today. Since it receives no funding from any governmental source or organization it has had to survive on its own.

Thankfully many members of the community have given substantial amounts of money to keep it operating as well as contributing items for display. It was built by volunteers with work, materials and expertise all being donated.

Major contributors have been Otis and Mary Montgomery and their families, Francis Proper, Vera Slechtova, Betty Larson Harris, the Molnar family in honor of Bernie Kloswick, Elizabeth Molnar Hoffer and John Molnar.

In addition to the monetary contributions received it is the donation of time that keeps the museum open. Current volunteers are Roger Allen, Shirley Andrews, Betty Brady, Marge Braniff, Margaret and Sam Clason, John and Sally Dalrymple, Barbara Dempsey, Karen Duck, Mary Geminder, Marge Hanson, Jean Hoffman, Della Holdread.

As well as Laura Jamrog, Chris Kloswick, Virginia Kraft, Sally Kurtis, Loyal Lane, Janice Leist, Marje Rea, Dorothy Skronski, Kay and Ray Smith, Marie Smith, Bill and Ginnie Stack, Pat Bellaire and Dick Boepple.

Many of these people have been with the museum since it opened 15 years ago.

In conversations with many residents, they are surprised that there is a museum in Edwardsburg and they inquire where it might be. It really is hard to miss with the flags flying in front. Throughout the summer tourists from all parts of the United States passing through Edwardsburg using the US-12 highway are astonished that such a small town has such a fantastic museum.

The museum contains the artifacts of the town carefully cared for to preserve the history of the area. Only items from the Edwardsburg area are accepted in the museum and every article tells a story.

We are blessed to have these groups and organizations of volunteers in our town.

 

Jo-Ann Boepple works at the Edwardsburg Area History Museum.