by Barry Featheringill Sullivan Reporter
Time capsule from 1989 also to be opened
On November 11, 1989 the Sullivan American Legion dedicated the Veterans Memorial located at the south- west entrance of Wyman Park. The memorial was a dream of Legion Commander Al Gold- en Sr. and the committee of legion members which included Al “Sonny” Golden Jr, Richard Shellabarger, and Mike Ke- own. The legion started planning the memorial in 1987 with legion members traveling around to other communities to see what their memorials were like. According to current legion commander Mike Keown, most of the other memorials were to a specific conflict, but Al Golden Sr. wanted the memorial in Sullivan to be to all veter- ans dating back to even the Civil War. Fast forward to 2014, which will mark the memorial’s 25th year by celebrating and rededicating it at 3 p.m. Saturday, No- vember 1 at the Sullivan American Legion Post. There will be the posting of the colors including state flags. “The flags were obtained through the efforts of State Sena- tor Chapin Rose and State Representative Adam Brown”, not- ed Keown.” The legion wishes to thank them for the support and efforts to obtain the flags.” One interesting fact about the memorial with which many perhaps aren’t familiar is that on the back side of the memori- al contains a prayer written by Keown. “The prayer is excerpts taken from the Legion Command- ers Manual” explained Keown. “We hope to have a larger turn out for this event than we had back in ’89’,” said former American Legion former com- mander Sonny Colclasure. Along with the 1989 dedication of the memorial, Doris Ca- zel’s first grade class at the time had a project to collect items to go into a time capsule. The time capsule will be opened at the 25 year ceremony and the contents revealed and available for the public to see. A collection of items will then be placed in a new capsule to be opened in 25 more years (2039). Items to be placed in the new time capsule should be taken to the Sullivan American Legion. And while the rededication ceremony might conflict with Sullivan-Okaw Valley’s playoff game at home, American Le- gion Commander Mike Keown hopes the public will still be able to attend. “We know there is going to be a conflict with the football playoff the same day. We hope that if the game is not over by the time the ceremony begins, that folks will come after the game,” said Keown. “There is going to be a meal, and all are invited to attend. Donations for the meal will be accepted. This will give people a chance to see the items from the 1989 time capsule.” For more information, contact the Sullivan American Le- gion at 728-461
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