By Mike Rhodes, Editor-in-Chief—
MUNCIE, IN—Members of the public are invited to the dedication ceremony of a new in-the-works Veterans Memorial Garden located at the Muncie-Delaware County Senior Citizens Center, 2517 W. 8th Street in Muncie. The dedication ceremony will begin at 11 a.m.
The project is being completed in phases and is intended to be a living memorial to the men and women who have served our country.
Dignitaries who will be in attendance include: Indiana Senator Scott Alexander, Muncie Mayor Dan Ridenour, who will give the keynote dedication presentation, and Sherry Riggin, President of the Delaware County Commissioners.
Americas Hometown band will play the Military Medley as flag poles are raised for each military service. In addition, the honor guard, rifle volley, and more will appear at the event.
According to Allen Johnstone, President of the Muncie-Delaware County Senior Citizens Center, the idea for the Veterans Memorial Garden came after a 2021 program about veterans suicide held at the senior center. The center received a grant from the State Department Veterans Administration to help the center introduce a program called the “Veterans Coffee Club” program. The grant will help introduce the program to all 92 counties in Indiana. Johnstone says the Veterans Coffee Club started with 4 members and now the club has over 175 registered Veteran members.
The Muncie Senior Citizens Center building—the original Forest Park Elementary School built in 1914—was placed by the Federal Government on the ‘US Registry of Historic Places’ on May 30, 2023. The state followed and it is on the ‘Indiana Registry of Historic Places’.
It will now be preserved as part of Muncie and Indiana’s historical past. The Senior Citizens Center has been introducing outreach programs for all of Muncie, the Veterans Memorial Garden, supported by businesses and individuals from our community is a gift to the people of Muncie and Delaware County.
Learn more about the senior center at this weblink: https://www.muncieseniorcenter.com/
